A late historian explores how crusade hymns told both the classic story of gospel salvation and the evolving story of evangelical worship music.Crowds of over 50,000. Famous special guests. Hundreds of cities in the US and around the world. Beloved, catchy songs. For many, these might sound like readouts from the Taylor Swift Eras Tour hype machine. But exchange the glittery girl power for the gospel in baritone, and you have one of the most successful musical touring acts in the postwar world: the Billy Graham Crusades.The first association that “Billy Graham Crusade” may evoke is not musical at all, but rather a close-up shot of the evangelist, with his penetrating, wide-eyed gaze and raised forearms, thundering, “The Bible says …” Admittedly, music was not the main focus.Yet as the late historian Edith Blumhofer shows in her final book, Songs I Love to Sing: The Billy Graham Crusades and the Shaping of Modern Worship, neither Graham’s ministry nor the late-century rise of contemporary Christian music can be understood without it. As crusade song leader Cliff Barrows pursued his main goal—“sing to save”—he and his teammates bridged stylistic, cultural, and generational divides, transforming evangelicals’ music into the harmonic blend of old and new that is familiar today.Mining rich resourcesBefore unpacking this highly original book, a few words about the author. Blumhofer is an American religious historian renowned for her empathetic biographies of hymnist Fanny J. Crosby and evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, as well as broader studies of evangelicalism and Pentecostalism. She concluded her career with this new study, sadly succumbing to a battle with cancer in the process.To finish the project, she tapped Jesus People expert Larry Eskridge, with whom she had for many years directed the Institute ...Continue reading...

Let us not give up meeting together—even when we disagree.Recently, a woman at my church approached me with a question borne out of genuine curiosity. She asked, “You’re a female theologian. Why did you choose to come to our church when women aren’t allowed to preach here?”Since much of my work as a Bible scholar is public, it is no secret that I support women’s full participation in ministry, including in church leadership. So I wasn’t surprised that someone happened to notice my convictions did not match our church’s practice on this issue.It’s a good question, and one I’ve wrestled with regularly—since, at present, I don’t feel I’m able to serve our church in all the ways that God has called and equipped me. I so long for the body of Christ to embrace the gifts of all its members, not only here but around the world. But as CT’s April issue reminds us, the global church is far from united on what women can and can’t do in church.Still, I was glad my friend asked me about our family’s decision-making process, because it’s face-to-face conversations like this that prevent polarization. The role of women isn’t the only issue that divides us today. Approaches to racial reconciliation or diversity initiatives, our posture toward climate change, and politics—particularly when there’s another contentious presidential election in sight—are all areas that threaten to fracture our faith communities.According to The Great Dechurching, a recent book by Jim Davis, Michael Graham, and Ryan P. Burge, people are leaving the church in unprecedented numbers. Forty million Americans who used to attend church no longer do—that’s 16 percent ...Continue reading...

"Blue Islands… those blue islands in red states and swing states… they could be swayed by LifeWise," host Alex Wagner warned.

? Last night we saw an answer to the prayers of many people. It has been our desire for many years now to have the opportunity to serve in the local jail by leading Bible studies. Over the last year, especially, Joseph Reidy has kept this prayer requests before us. We are so thankful this […]The post New Ministry at the Forsyth County Jail appeared first on Vision Baptist Church of South Forsyth.

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-24-2024Psalm 119:97-104? Introduction:? A. Psalm 119 contains 176 verses with 22 stanzas and 8 verses per stanza with each verse in a stanza beginning with the corresponding letter of the Hebrew alphabet. An acrostic.? B. Tonight, I want to look at the 13th? stanza, verses 97-104, and the Hebrew letter MEM.? 1. This letter MEM has two different forms – the regular letter? מ, which is open at the bottom? and the special final letter? ם, which is closed. I wanted to mention this without spending a lot of time on it. We are not here tonight to learn the Hebrew language. We are here to convey a simple truth.? 2. The regular MEM? מ, represents everything that we understand while the special letter MEM? ם, represents everything that we do not comprehend.? 3. In Genesis, chapter 1, we find both uses of MEM in one verse.? In the story of the Creation, the text mentions that God separated the waters above the firmament and below it. The first? MEM? represents the waters above the firmament, which we and the second? MEM? the waters below the firmament. Therefore, this letter is connected to the element of water.? Genesis 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.? 4. God made a division between the waters above the firmament, which we can see, and the waters below the firmament which we can only see that which is above ground with the water underground not seen.? 5. There are parts of the Bible that we know and understand. There are spiritual truths found in the Bible that are later grasped through continuation of study of the Scriptures.? 6. The numerical value of MEM is 40, an important number in the Bible as it signifies ripeness and maturity.? a) The life of Moses was split into three segments of 40 years. Each segment of 40 was a stage of development in his life and ministry.? b) The rains of the Great Flood lasted for 40 days.? c) Moses stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days to receive the Law.? d) Jonah the prophet told the people of Ninveh that they had 40 days to repent.? e) The Children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years.? f) The LORD Jesus fasted 40 days before the Mount of Temptation.? C. MEM represents water. In this portion of the 119th? Psalm, I want to look at the Word of God in relationship to our spiritual understanding. Many of God's people have only head knowledge of God's Word but, in life, the Word of God has little practical use. Putting the Word of God into practice, especially in decision making.? D. In your Bible, water represents the Word of God.? Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,? John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.? John 4:10-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (11) The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (12) Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? (13) Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (14) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.? E. The common thread in these 8 verses is learning.? Proverbs 4:5-7 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (6) Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. (7) Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.? 1. Verse 97. Knowledge. “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” The motivation for growing in God's Word is found in this verse. There are two aspects vital to our learning:? a. Love. “O how love I thy law! The words “O how” are exclamatory. This is a strong statement exemplifying the strength of “love I thy law!” Though punctuation is not a part of the actual text, the exclamation point at the end of the statement agrees with the wording. We will never gain knowledge of the Word of God unless we love the Word of God.? Job 23:11-12 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.? ? b. Meditation. “It is my meditation all the day.” Another key to knowledge of Scripture is meditation. Emersed in the Bible! Controlled by the Bible. As we saturate our minds and hearts with the Word of God, the Spirit of God can bring the Word to our remembrance when needed.? Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.? c. So, what's the problem in our day? Two-fold:? 1) It is a Pew Problem.? Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.? Hebrews 5:11-12 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.? 2) It is a Pulpit Problem.? Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.? 2. Verse 98. Wisdom. “Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies.” Spiritual wisdom is greater than the wisdom of the world and will overcome the wicked.? a. The Master. “Thou … hast made me” is key to adding wisdom to knowledge. By my definition, wisdom is the right application of knowledge. When we love and meditate in God's Word, God the Holy Ghost will teach us how to use it in our daily lives and future days.? b. The Median. “through thy commandments”? Instead of the wisdom of the world which is good to some degree, the wisdom that comes through the application of the Word of God which is all good.? 3. Verse 99-102. Understanding. “Spiritual Engineering.” Knowledge is learning facts; wisdom it learning to put what you learn to work; Understanding is knowing why they work. What does understanding of God's commandment do?? a. Verse 98. They make you wiser than your enemies. You are not ignorant of Satan's devices.? b. Verse 99. They make you wise enough to be an example in both word and truth. You eventually become a teacher of teachers.? c. Verse 100. They make you wiser because you do not follow the wrong paths others before you have trodden.? d. Verse 101. They make you wise enough to know that sinfulness brings about a woeful end.? e. Verse 102. They make you wise enough to not think that you have “arrived” and are foolproof. Satan often attacks us in our strengths in stead of our weaknesses. Never get too wise to be smart!? 4. Verses 103-104. Never get to the place where you are no longer a learner. Often, teachers quit being students and become spiritually stale.? a. Keep the Word of God Sweet so as not to get Stale.? b. Keep the Word of God Faithfully to prevent going into the False Way.

Rediscovering the Power of Prayer for Local Church MinistryClark GrahamThu, 01/18/2024 - 09:00 Throughout the New Testament, we see that crisis prayers are often ineffectual without being preceded by communion prayers. Ministry is filled with unexpected moments of crisis. In these times, we find ourselves praying for God's miraculous intervention. Throughout the New Testament, however, we see that crisis prayers are often ineffectual without being preceded by communion prayers.? For instance, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus engaged in a season of unimaginable, agonizing prayer (Matthew 26:36–44). However, John 17 records that Jesus had prayed in the upper room just before Gethsemane. These two prayers—Gethsemane and the upper room—are profoundly different. While the garden prayer was about imminent crisis, the upper room prayer was about intimate communion.? In June of 2017, twenty-one-year old Alex Honnold climbed the world's most famous climbing rock: El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He ascended the three thousand-foot face in just three hours and fifty-six minutes. But his real achievement was not just in what he did, but in how he did it. Honnold specializes in a climbing technique known as free solo climbing, meaning he does not use any ropes or equipment. His climb was celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind because it would either be a perfect climb or death.But Alex Honnold didn't just wake up one day and decide to scale El Capitan without a rope. He went through a two-year preparation process. On the day of his climb, every hand hold, foot placement, and body movement had been carefully choreographed in precise detail. Alex's preparation had determined his performance.? In Mark 9, while Peter, James, and John are on the mountain with Jesus witnessing His transfiguration, the remaining disciples find themselves in a situation for which they are wholly unprepared (Mark? 9:14–29). A man whose son has been suffering day and night because of demon possession approaches the disciples begging for help. Despite all their efforts, they are powerless to cast out the evil spirit. Jesus arrives on the scene and miraculously heals the boy, ministering to the once-hopeless father in the process. After the ordeal is over, the disciples ask Jesus privately why they were not able to cast out the demon. Jesus' answer is simple but soul-shaking: “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29).? The disciples were certainly praying men, but they lost, or perhaps had not yet discovered, power in their praying.? When we find ourselves in such a place—serving and yet unequipped and powerless in ministry—how do we rediscover the power of prayer? Here are three ways:Regain the Focus of Our Imperative MissionThe church's mission was defined by Jesus in Matthew 28:18–20. At the very core of this mission, two actions are essential: to represent the Savior and recover sinners.? In Mark 9, the father of the demon possessed boy came to the disciples because he had heard of Jesus. In Jesus' absence, the man naturally looked to His disciples who were ministering in His name. Sadly, the disciples did not represent the Savior well nor were they able to recover sinners from the grip of Satan. “And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not” (Mark? 9:18).? Paul explained that God has given all believers the “ministry of reconciliation.” We are able to carry out this mission as we remember that we represent the Savior. We “are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2? Corinthians? 5:18, 20).Remember the Futility of Impotent MinistryBefore this father begged the disciples for help, the disciples had already been sent out to preach the gospel and were given authority to cast out devils and heal the sick (Luke 9:1–2). Why then were they not able to minister to this family when they had been given the authority to do so? Jesus had given authority to His disciples, but that authority was only effective when exercised by faith. Christ has given His church the authority to minister for Him, but our authority will be ineffective and lack power when we operate faithlessly: “He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me” (Mark 9:19).? Jesus warned against trying to produce results on our own: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John? 15:5).Renew Our Faith in an Impeccable Master? Faith unlocks the invisible and completes the impossible. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Jesus affirmed this to the desperate father in Mark 9: “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we can ascribe limitless possibility to God by completely trusting Him.If we are to truly live by faith day by day, we will need to, like the desperate father, acknowledge that we are a limited people: “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24).? Some of the greatest prayers in the Bible were motivated by an acknowledgment of one's human limitations. Moses prayed for mercy (Numbers 14:11–20). David prayed for cleansing (Psalm? 51:2–12). Solomon prayed for wisdom (1? Kings? 3:5–12). The apostles prayed for courage (Acts 4:23–31). These men, and countless others, could have full assurance and confidence in their crisis prayers because they regularly had communion prayers.? That power is for us, too. When we regain focus, remember the futility of ministering in our own power, and daily renew our faith in our impeccable Master while we commune with the Lord in prayer, we will discover or rediscover the free-flowing power of God upon our lives, ministries, and churches.? ? Category Christian Living Tags Prayer Local Church

Walk by Faith: Choosing Faith on a Daily BasisTerrie ChappellTue, 01/02/2024 - 01:14 Take a walk with me through what many have called “the great hall of faith”—Hebrews chapter 11. The men and women listed in this chapter are people whose lives were pivot points in Bible history.? Notice the portraits lining the walls in this hall of faith. Here we find Abel, whose faith to obey God's command for a blood sacrifice singled him out as the first martyr. Here is Enoch—a man who by faith, walked with God so closely that he was privileged to skip death. Here is Noah, whose faith changed the entire course of human history.We move on and see Abraham and Sarah, the father and mother of God's chosen people. The landscape of the Old Testament was shaped through the faith of this couple. Then there are Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—three more great heroes in Scripture. Further on we see Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Samuel, and others—all people we recognize and admire.? All who are portrayed in this chapter lived lives of great significance, not because they were powerful people who could control others and manipulate their circumstances, but because of their extreme faith in God. Most of them were ridiculed, misunderstood, and knew what it was to suffer defeat. Most of them started as insignificant and would have been labeled as very unlikely to succeed. They just didn't have what we think people need to favorably shape their destinies.So how did they do it? The key is faith. These people lived and walked by faith. A life of godly significance is always a life of faith. And this faith is developed one day at a time.? Exercise Your Faith to See it GrowPerhaps you've heard the statement, “Faith is not a pill you take; it is a muscle you use.” As we exercise our faith, it grows.? True faith moves beyond belief to action. Faith is not simply a feeling, but rather a choice to obey God and trust that He will come? through.I've been privileged to closely observe a man of great faith—my husband. In the forty-two years of our marriage, I've watched him over and over seek God's vision for our family and our ministry and then by faith move forward into humanly impossible undertakings. And every time, I've seen God honor his faith.I know that my faith often isn't great. Sometimes when I see the great faith of others, I question if my faith is too small for God to even bless. Matthew 17:20 gives a promise that I have learned to love and claim: “. . . verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”? The very essence of faith is remembering our great God and trusting Him to do what we cannot. When we place our focus on how little our faith is, we forget to focus on how great our God is. Furthermore, if we wait to use our faith until it is great, we will never do anything by faith. Faith grows through use.? Nurture Your Faith by Walking with GodFrom our earliest years we've learned to be cautious of trusting those we don't know. We drill this into our children as soon as they are old enough to walk and wander away from us in public places. Many times this caution explains why we struggle to trust the Lord. We simply don't know Him.Notice in Psalm 9:10 that the people who trust God are the people who know God: “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek? thee.” We may know in our head that God is absolutely and completely trustworthy, but until we grow in our relationship with Him, we will struggle to trust Him.Faith doesn't come just because we want it. Faith comes as we read God's Word and discover who God is. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, we learn that He can be trusted. Romans 10:17 explains, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”Additionally, there's nothing like seeing God answer prayer to increase your faith. I've found over the years that keeping a prayer journal provides a written record of God's answers and becomes a great faith-booster. I simply record the date I begin praying for a particular request. Then, when God answers, I record that date and a brief description of how He answered.? Build Your Faith by Claiming God's PromisesWhen you are faced with overwhelming circumstances, open God's Word and remember the unchanging promises of God.There are two important keys to claiming God's promises.? First, we must know God's promises. For many women, the promises of God mean nothing—simply because they don't know them. As you read your Bible, begin marking the promises that speak to you. Write them down in a journal. Memorize them. Make them accessible for easy reference when you need to claim them.Second, we must use God's promises. Like a check that is only valuable when cashed, God's promises do not help us unless we trust them.? Trust God One Day at a TimeWalking by faith is a daily journey. As A.W. Tozer said, “Faith is not [just] a conclusion you reach; it is a journey you live.”? God calls us to a continuing journey of faith as we grow in our relationship with Him. Hebrews? 11:6 reminds us that the diligent exercise of faith is key to our growth in the Lord: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” God desires to reward your life as you pursue Him in faith one day at a time.? Category Christian Living Ministry Resources The Choice Is Yours The Choice Is Yours Terrie Chappell Tags Women Ladies Ministry Faith Christian Living

Four Keys for Raising Up a New Generation of MissionariesDr. Paul ChappellFri, 11/10/2023 - 16:24 One of the highlights to me of World Impact Missions Conference at Lancaster Baptist Church is seeing missionaries who grew up at Lancaster Baptist and/or graduated from West Coast Baptist College and and are now serving the Lord on mission fields around the world. (The picture above is of WCBC alumni who were here for Missions Conference '23 earlier this week and are now planting churches around the world.)? The Lord has allowed us to see many young people from our own church family—kids who grew up right here in our Sunday school classes and, in many cases, whose parents trusted Christ through the outreach ministry of our church—who are now preaching the gospel in foreign countries. Additionally, there are hundreds of WCBC alumni serving the Lord on over forty foreign fields.? One of the trends that concerns me, however, is a decline of young people across America surrendering their lives to missions. The world population is growing, but fewer American young people seem burdened to reach the world with the gospel.? Certainly God is still calling young people to surrender their lives to preach the gospel. Why then does it seem that fewer are responding?There are certainly many contributing factors we could cite to answer that question. But I believe there are four simple areas of emphasis that could change the trend. And when these four are working together, they can bring a monumental shift.? What is needed to raise up a new generation of missionaries?? 1. Parents who believe it would be a privilege if God calls their childChildren are the gift of God and entrusted by God to parents to raise for God's honor and glory.Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3–5)Yet, too often Christian parents raise their children with goals of personal satisfaction. These parents are measuring by the world's goals of financial security and career success.? It's good for young people to grow up knowing that their parents' greatest goal for their lives is that they would serve God in whatever way He calls them—including the foreign field.? 2. Churches that emphasize missionsIn Acts 13–14, we read of the first organized program for missions in the New Testament. It began as the church at Antioch sent out Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. After preaching the gospel through many cities and establishing churches, Paul and Barnabas returned to report on all that God had done.? And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27)Can you picture what it was like for the children and young people listening to this first missionary report? They heard about the hardships and the blessings, and I can imagine the sense of wonder and even adventure that Paul's stories stirred in their hearts. No doubt some of them eventually became missionaries themselves.? One of the great strengths of the independent Baptist model of missions, based on Acts 13–14, in which a church sends out missionaries who then come back and report of all God has done on the field, is that young people are exposed to missionaries on a regular basis.? To raise up a new generation of missionaries, churches need to keep the Great Commission of Christ—“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15)—before young people. Encourage children to pray for missionaries. Host regular missions conferences. And highlight the need for laborers in spiritually-dark places around the world.? 3. Christian schools with vibrant chapel services, emphasizing a life of surrender to JesusIn Acts 13, it was the Holy Spirit who called Paul and Barnabas to the work of missions.? As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (Acts 13:2)But this calling happened in an environment of total dedication to Christ and service for the Lord. These were people who were already ministering to the Lord and fasting.? Effective Christian schools are not just a place to keep your children from the harmful influences of secular education and cultural brainwashing. They are places that proactively encourage a life of surrender to the Lord and are filled with teachers who model the joy of serving Christ.4. Bible colleges led by soulwinning pastors and instructors who teach missions and bring missionaries to campusIt was striking to hear how many of our West Coast Baptist College alumni who came as missionaries to this year's conference mentioned that they had sensed God's call to missions during their time at WCBC. Several even mentioned that it was during one of the Lancaster Baptist Church missions conferences.? Many young people who have surrendered to serve the Lord in full time ministry do not know right after high school in what capacity God would have them serve. Whether or not they ultimately serve as missionaries, being in a Bible college environment where missions is emphasized will strengthen their understanding of and commitment to being part of the Great Commission of Christ to go into all nations with the gospel.? Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19–20)About a year and a half ago, while hosting Spiritual Leadership Conference Egypt, I had the opportunity to visit the gravesite of William Borden in Cairo. Borden was a young American missionary living in Egypt to learn Arabic while preparing to preach the gospel to Muslim people in China. While still in Egypt, he contracted meningitis and died at age twenty-five.? As Terrie and I walked through the American cemetery there in Cairo, I was stirred to see the gravesites of other missionaries as well, many who, like Borden, gave their lives for the sake of the gospel on foreign soil. I couldn't help but pray that God will raise up a new generation of men and women who will fully and freely surrender their lives to the spread of the gospel around the world.Whether you are a parent, pastor, Sunday school teacher, Christian educator, or someone with any other influence in young people's lives, I challenge you consider how you can be part of helping young people obey the instruction of Christ to “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35). Category Christian Living

In January, Bob had the opportunity to meet Dr. Jack (Jacob) and Barb Koons while he was attending the South Central Texas Baptist Fellowship. Brother Jack has a ministry “Promoting the King James Bible” and “Refuting Calvinism and Arminianism.” He presents his work in local churches. In addition, Brother Jack has written a number of […]The post Brother Jack Koons, KJV Evangelist appeared first on Missionaries to Cyberspace.

Apparently, believing what the Bible says about pre-flood longevity is enough to get you fired by Russia's Ministry of Science and Higher Education!

Rediscovering the Power of Prayer for Local Church MinistryClark GrahamThu, 01/18/2024 - 09:00 Throughout the New Testament, we see that crisis prayers are often ineffectual without being preceded by communion prayers. Ministry is filled with unexpected moments of crisis. In these times, we find ourselves praying for God's miraculous intervention. Throughout the New Testament, however, we see that crisis prayers are often ineffectual without being preceded by communion prayers.? For instance, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus engaged in a season of unimaginable, agonizing prayer (Matthew 26:36–44). However, John 17 records that Jesus had prayed in the upper room just before Gethsemane. These two prayers—Gethsemane and the upper room—are profoundly different. While the garden prayer was about imminent crisis, the upper room prayer was about intimate communion.? In June of 2017, twenty-one-year old Alex Honnold climbed the world's most famous climbing rock: El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He ascended the three thousand-foot face in just three hours and fifty-six minutes. But his real achievement was not just in what he did, but in how he did it. Honnold specializes in a climbing technique known as free solo climbing, meaning he does not use any ropes or equipment. His climb was celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind because it would either be a perfect climb or death.But Alex Honnold didn't just wake up one day and decide to scale El Capitan without a rope. He went through a two-year preparation process. On the day of his climb, every hand hold, foot placement, and body movement had been carefully choreographed in precise detail. Alex's preparation had determined his performance.? In Mark 9, while Peter, James, and John are on the mountain with Jesus witnessing His transfiguration, the remaining disciples find themselves in a situation for which they are wholly unprepared (Mark? 9:14–29). A man whose son has been suffering day and night because of demon possession approaches the disciples begging for help. Despite all their efforts, they are powerless to cast out the evil spirit. Jesus arrives on the scene and miraculously heals the boy, ministering to the once-hopeless father in the process. After the ordeal is over, the disciples ask Jesus privately why they were not able to cast out the demon. Jesus' answer is simple but soul-shaking: “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29).? The disciples were certainly praying men, but they lost, or perhaps had not yet discovered, power in their praying.? When we find ourselves in such a place—serving and yet unequipped and powerless in ministry—how do we rediscover the power of prayer? Here are three ways:Regain the Focus of Our Imperative MissionThe church's mission was defined by Jesus in Matthew 28:18–20. At the very core of this mission, two actions are essential: to represent the Savior and recover sinners.? In Mark 9, the father of the demon possessed boy came to the disciples because he had heard of Jesus. In Jesus' absence, the man naturally looked to His disciples who were ministering in His name. Sadly, the disciples did not represent the Savior well nor were they able to recover sinners from the grip of Satan. “And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not” (Mark? 9:18).? Paul explained that God has given all believers the “ministry of reconciliation.” We are able to carry out this mission as we remember that we represent the Savior. We “are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2? Corinthians? 5:18, 20).Remember the Futility of Impotent MinistryBefore this father begged the disciples for help, the disciples had already been sent out to preach the gospel and were given authority to cast out devils and heal the sick (Luke 9:1–2). Why then were they not able to minister to this family when they had been given the authority to do so? Jesus had given authority to His disciples, but that authority was only effective when exercised by faith. Christ has given His church the authority to minister for Him, but our authority will be ineffective and lack power when we operate faithlessly: “He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me” (Mark 9:19).? Jesus warned against trying to produce results on our own: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John? 15:5).Renew Our Faith in an Impeccable Master? Faith unlocks the invisible and completes the impossible. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Jesus affirmed this to the desperate father in Mark 9: “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we can ascribe limitless possibility to God by completely trusting Him.If we are to truly live by faith day by day, we will need to, like the desperate father, acknowledge that we are a limited people: “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24).? Some of the greatest prayers in the Bible were motivated by an acknowledgment of one's human limitations. Moses prayed for mercy (Numbers 14:11–20). David prayed for cleansing (Psalm? 51:2–12). Solomon prayed for wisdom (1? Kings? 3:5–12). The apostles prayed for courage (Acts 4:23–31). These men, and countless others, could have full assurance and confidence in their crisis prayers because they regularly had communion prayers.? That power is for us, too. When we regain focus, remember the futility of ministering in our own power, and daily renew our faith in our impeccable Master while we commune with the Lord in prayer, we will discover or rediscover the free-flowing power of God upon our lives, ministries, and churches.? ? Category Christian Living Tags Prayer Local Church

Walk by Faith: Choosing Faith on a Daily BasisTerrie ChappellTue, 01/02/2024 - 01:14 Take a walk with me through what many have called “the great hall of faith”—Hebrews chapter 11. The men and women listed in this chapter are people whose lives were pivot points in Bible history.? Notice the portraits lining the walls in this hall of faith. Here we find Abel, whose faith to obey God's command for a blood sacrifice singled him out as the first martyr. Here is Enoch—a man who by faith, walked with God so closely that he was privileged to skip death. Here is Noah, whose faith changed the entire course of human history.We move on and see Abraham and Sarah, the father and mother of God's chosen people. The landscape of the Old Testament was shaped through the faith of this couple. Then there are Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—three more great heroes in Scripture. Further on we see Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Samuel, and others—all people we recognize and admire.? All who are portrayed in this chapter lived lives of great significance, not because they were powerful people who could control others and manipulate their circumstances, but because of their extreme faith in God. Most of them were ridiculed, misunderstood, and knew what it was to suffer defeat. Most of them started as insignificant and would have been labeled as very unlikely to succeed. They just didn't have what we think people need to favorably shape their destinies.So how did they do it? The key is faith. These people lived and walked by faith. A life of godly significance is always a life of faith. And this faith is developed one day at a time.? Exercise Your Faith to See it GrowPerhaps you've heard the statement, “Faith is not a pill you take; it is a muscle you use.” As we exercise our faith, it grows.? True faith moves beyond belief to action. Faith is not simply a feeling, but rather a choice to obey God and trust that He will come? through.I've been privileged to closely observe a man of great faith—my husband. In the forty-two years of our marriage, I've watched him over and over seek God's vision for our family and our ministry and then by faith move forward into humanly impossible undertakings. And every time, I've seen God honor his faith.I know that my faith often isn't great. Sometimes when I see the great faith of others, I question if my faith is too small for God to even bless. Matthew 17:20 gives a promise that I have learned to love and claim: “. . . verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”? The very essence of faith is remembering our great God and trusting Him to do what we cannot. When we place our focus on how little our faith is, we forget to focus on how great our God is. Furthermore, if we wait to use our faith until it is great, we will never do anything by faith. Faith grows through use.? Nurture Your Faith by Walking with GodFrom our earliest years we've learned to be cautious of trusting those we don't know. We drill this into our children as soon as they are old enough to walk and wander away from us in public places. Many times this caution explains why we struggle to trust the Lord. We simply don't know Him.Notice in Psalm 9:10 that the people who trust God are the people who know God: “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek? thee.” We may know in our head that God is absolutely and completely trustworthy, but until we grow in our relationship with Him, we will struggle to trust Him.Faith doesn't come just because we want it. Faith comes as we read God's Word and discover who God is. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, we learn that He can be trusted. Romans 10:17 explains, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”Additionally, there's nothing like seeing God answer prayer to increase your faith. I've found over the years that keeping a prayer journal provides a written record of God's answers and becomes a great faith-booster. I simply record the date I begin praying for a particular request. Then, when God answers, I record that date and a brief description of how He answered.? Build Your Faith by Claiming God's PromisesWhen you are faced with overwhelming circumstances, open God's Word and remember the unchanging promises of God.There are two important keys to claiming God's promises.? First, we must know God's promises. For many women, the promises of God mean nothing—simply because they don't know them. As you read your Bible, begin marking the promises that speak to you. Write them down in a journal. Memorize them. Make them accessible for easy reference when you need to claim them.Second, we must use God's promises. Like a check that is only valuable when cashed, God's promises do not help us unless we trust them.? Trust God One Day at a TimeWalking by faith is a daily journey. As A.W. Tozer said, “Faith is not [just] a conclusion you reach; it is a journey you live.”? God calls us to a continuing journey of faith as we grow in our relationship with Him. Hebrews? 11:6 reminds us that the diligent exercise of faith is key to our growth in the Lord: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” God desires to reward your life as you pursue Him in faith one day at a time.? Category Christian Living Ministry Resources The Choice Is Yours The Choice Is Yours Terrie Chappell Tags Women Ladies Ministry Faith Christian Living

Among the Messianic Psalms (Bible Chapters that speak of Jesus centuries before His earthly Ministry) … none towers any higher than Psalm 22. Yet its beginning is so blatantly abrupt! Psalm 22:1 … “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of […]

Four Challenges Missionaries Face and How Your Church Can HelpAdam FridenstineMon, 11/06/2023 - 01:11 We read in Philippians 4:10–19 that the Philippian church greatly encouraged Paul. What was it that was so meaningful to him? It wasn't just their financial support, but it was also their continued care for him and their desire to be part of his work.As missionaries, Esther and I have often been incredibly blessed by churches who encourage us in our work here in El Salvador. The prayers, support, and communication from state-side churches has often come at just the right moment to lift our spirits and strengthen our hands in the work of the Lord. Churches who support missionaries want to be a blessing. But sometimes well-meaning people in those churches don't know how specifically to do that. Life on a foreign field is full of challenges many Christians back home never face. Understanding these challenges can help supporting churches know how to help their missionaries.Cultural Adjustments Learning a new language and culture is more challenging than anyone who has not experienced it can comprehend. At the same time a missionary family is struggling to learn a foreign language, they are usually working through complicated legalities and often spending 20–40 hours per week navigating paperwork, foreign bank transactions, immigration, paying bills, and more. It's frustrating for them to have so much time eaten up by these necessities that would be non-existent or far simpler in their home country. Especially at the beginning, the missionary will often feel as if they are not fulfilling the Great Commission due to all the time these needs require. Pray diligently for your missionaries during this time, and communicate that to them. Be patient with them, as they would rather be doing other things as well. Recognize that it may take months or even years to see an established work, depending on the language and culture.Balancing many rolesAs missionaries strive to make a difference in the place that God has called them, they are often involved in many outreach ministries as well as building the church. Depending on the situation, they may have no trained help for several years, and there are no Bible colleges from which to hire help. There is a constant pressure to always be ready for the next church service, the next event, the next witnessing opportunity. Did they know this was part of what they signed up for? Absolutely! But it is still a lot on one's plate!You can help by initiating communication with the missionary, even when you are not asking something from them. Reach out with love and encouragement. Ask direct and love-loaded questions about the missionary and his family, marriage, health, etc. Give time and reminders when you are asking for a special update or personal communication.Discouragement and emotional needsThough not exclusive to foreign ministry, your missionaries will undoubtedly experience a multitude of discouragements and emotional needs on the field. The difference for missionaries is that there is likely a greater lack of a support team on the foreign field. Sometimes there are no other mature Christians nearby to help through their valleys. A missionary should never come off the field feeling lonely or unloved.Purpose to be a support team for your missionaries. Ask your church members to adopt a missionary family. (We have had many churches do this, rotating missionaries each year. Through the years, the missionary family has been loved by several families, and eventually the whole church feels as though they know the missionaries personally.)Financial BurdensMissionaries will spend many months on deputation raising funds to go to the field. They try to anticipate all financial needs for the foreseeable future in a place they have never previously lived. Although it is true that the income of a foreign missionary will often be higher than the nationals living in that same area, there are also many ministry expenses that a national would not have. Even with the best laid plans, good stewardship and constant support, things like inflation can make a huge difference in the monthly budget of a missionary. And even when churches always support on time and faithfully send the same amount for many years, those support dollars do not go as far as they used to depending on the economy in that particular country. The cost of living continually rises, while the missionary's support generally remains unchanged. How can your church help with the financial burdens of missionaries? Be sensitive to the economic challenges of living internationally on a fixed income. We have been blessed on a couple of occasions when a church reached out and purchased a new appliance to replace a broken one we were not able to replace at the time. Washing machines and refrigerators are luxuries, but they sure are blessings! You can also plan for occasional unannounced offerings for special projects. Communicate with your missionaries about their needs, and evaluate adjusting your support levels according to those needs.Without the financial support of churches, missionaries couldn't go. Without the prayer support, emotional support, and encouragement, missionaries will seldom go as far as they could. Category Missions Tags Missions

Four Ways Christian Education Strengthens FamiliesEric LeeTue, 07/11/2023 - 13:24 The objective of all true educators is to provide learning to students. But the framework in which that takes place in a Christian school is clearly distinctive from its secular counterparts. Our colleagues in the arena of public education see the state as the party responsible for educating a child. As Christians, we view this responsibility differently because we see it through the lens of Scripture which plainly declares that this weight rests on the shoulders of parents: “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 11:19). “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). A Christian school can assist parents as parents delegate part of this responsibility to trustworthy educators. Christian education, rather than competing with parental responsibility, can greatly aid parents. Here are just a few of the ways that Christian education strengthens families.1. A Biblical Wordlview“Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:16–17).Godly teachers can reaffirm the biblical worldview already being taught in the home. The student's forming and acceptance of biblical beliefs is aided by the compounding effect of hearing the same truth from multiple angles and perspectives. When the message from Sunday is echoed by the math teacher on Monday, its ability to penetrate the heart is enhanced. When the verse discussed during family devotions Thursday night is the memory verse in Bible class, there is a cumulative effect.Conversely, a number of competing secular influences consistently attempt to chisel away at the biblical foundation laid in a Christian home. Sunday's message and Thursday's family devotions can be drowned out by the varied opposing voices of the secular world. The Bible warns that a young person is not to listen: “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge” (Proverbs 19:27). Parents are in a key position to protect their children from those voices.2. Daily Exposure to Godly Mentors and Role Models“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20).The mentors and role models a young person is exposed to on a daily basis in a Christian school can be spiritually strengthening. The coach of the sports team, school administrator, cafeteria volunteer, music teacher, classroom instructor, and guest chapel speaker are just some of the individuals God can use in a young person's life. These servants of God can inspire transformation in the lives of students. God certainly worked in my life this way, and I am eternally grateful for the influence of men like my high school coach who God used to call me into that same ministry. 3. Wholistic Development“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). Mankind is a multi-faceted creature with physical, emotional, and social needs. Sports, music, and extracurricular opportunities are key components in most schools. A wholistic development, though, must include spiritual development. Christian education not only provides Bible classes, but it also infuses and integrates Scripture and a biblical worldview into every aspect of education. Christian education strengthens families by providing an education of the total student in a wholistic way that education which deemphasizes the spiritual nature of man and often promotes anti-Christian views cannot provide.4. A Nurturing Environment “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33).It would be foolish to claim that Christian education is immune from sinful behavior. Unfortunately, the sins of society penetrate the walls of a Christian school too. But Christian education actively seeks to create a habitat that exposes these destructive attitudes and actions for what they truly are. In a biblically-based way Christian education provides a nurturing environment that is the kind of spiritual soil necessary for young people to experience consistent growth. This Christian greenhouse is extremely beneficial for a young person as they establish their foundation for life. While this brief list is far from exhaustive in outlining the benefits of Christian education to the Christian family, it does provide a taste of the type of joy-filled partnership that can result from this biblical model. The fruit of this partnership between parents and Christian educators is well worth the time, money, and energy involved in laboring to train the next generation of Christian leaders. Together the home and Christian school can experience the incredible blessing of seeing God continue to develop laborers for His harvest. Category Family Helps Tags Christian Education Parenting Family Helps Family

Disagreement without DisunityDr. Don SiskTue, 05/02/2023 - 10:14 I am nearing my ninetieth birthday. I made public my call to preach on Thanksgiving night of 1954. A few days after that I preached my first sermon in the prayer meeting service of the Black Oak Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana. Two years later, I began pastoring. I have been in full-time ministry since 1956—nearly seventy years.Because of the various ministries I have served in, I've preached in literally thousands of churches all over the world. Being in so many churches is a blessing because I get to meet men and women who are faithfully serving Christ all around the globe. But going to so many places does have a downfall: I sometimes see the sad disunity among God's people. Churches, Bible Colleges, mission organizations, preachers, and ordinary Christians find reasons to quarrel with one another.Of course, every church or organization has some differences with the next organization. But among the independent Baptist places where I am privileged to serve, most have so much more in common than different. Yet, for some reason, we emphasize our differences more than our common practices and beliefs. Would it not be wonderful if we would emphasize our commonality rather than our differences?Many years ago when I became the Far East Director of BIMI, my pastor, Dr. Lee Roberson, was generous in giving needful advice—principles by which to conduct my ministry. One night as we were driving together back to Chattanooga from a meeting, he said to me “Don, you go anywhere that you believe God is leading you to go and minister. Some of the places you go to some of the brethren will criticize you. Don't fight with them; just keep going where you know God wants you to go.” Of course, Dr. Roberson was speaking about doctrinally-solid Baptist churches. And that was good advice. He was right on both points—some brethren criticized me, and I learned not to spend valuable time defending myself.For the first eight years of my ministry. I was a Southern Baptist. When I began to see the liberalism and compromise taking place in the Southern Baptist Convention, I became an independent Baptist by conviction. I'm grateful for that decision, and I would do it all over again—even today. I soon learned, however, that independent Baptists sometimes aren't very independent in their relationships with one another. If I did things the way they wanted me to do and went where they wanted me to go and refused to go where they did not want me to go, I was accepted. But when I didn't meet those criteria, I was not always accepted.Over my nearly seventy years in the ministry, I have seen several leaders try to be a Baptist pope (although not, of course, with that title). None of them have succeeded. The reality is that we must each answer to God—not to each other. “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. . . . But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:4, 10).When biblical doctrine or sin is involved, of course we must separate. And yes, we all have our preferences. We have a right to have them. However, pastors, in particular, have a responsibility to establish leadership guidelines for their church workers. But, pastors do not have the right to determine preferences for other churches.I realize we must not call the violation of biblical principles a preference. We are commanded to “contend for the faith” (Jude 3). But we need not be contentious about matters not pertaining to the faith.Throughout the New Testament, we have examples of the conflict that comes through pride and the good that comes when people who have differences give deference to one another.John the Baptist“And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:26–30).Some of the disciples of John the Baptist realized that when Jesus began His ministry, people were going to Him instead of to John. They told John, “all men come to him.” (By the way, all of the people were not going to Jesus. We often unwisely exaggerate when we want to make a point.)The answer that John the Baptist gave to his disciples was classic: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John did not become jealous or competitive. In fact, he was not trying to make disciples for himself in the first place; he was pointing people to Christ. So rather than feeling insecure, he rejoiced in what Jesus was doing and how the people were following Christ.I fear—and I can speak from experience—that we have a tendency to criticize others not because of something bad they are doing, but because they are doing more and are seeing more results than we are. In short, we become jealous.None of us are in competition with other good Bible believing organizations or individuals. We are on the same team. Their success is our success, and it's all for the glory of God. But when team members become jealous of one another, we all lose.John the Apostle“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us” (Luke 9:49–50).Basically, what John was saying was, “They didn't graduate from our college” or “They weren't with our mission organization” or “They are not in our camp” or “They aren't doing things like us.”And what did Jesus tell John? “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”To allow others to do things differently than we do without criticizing them is Christlike. And to attempt to be an enforcer of others is Johnlike—the immature, pre-resurrection version of John.Paul and BarnabasPaul and Barnabas were a wonderful team who were greatly used of God. In Acts 13, they were sent out as missionaries from the first organized church missions program. Throughout Acts 13 and 14, we read of the amazing ways that God used them. Then, when they returned to Antioch, they continued to work together, including speaking to the Jerusalem council in Acts 15.But when it came time for their second missionary journey, they had a falling out.“And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God” (Acts 15:36–40).Because we know this story of Paul and Barnabas' disagreement, we aren't surprised when we read it. But if we had known Paul and Barnabas before this incident, we would never have suspected that they would have parted ways.Perhaps the most amazing thing about this separation, however, is not that it happened, but what did not happen—specifically that they did not spend time criticizing one another. In fact, you do not find one word in Scripture of Paul speaking poorly of Barnabas or Barnabas of Paul. They parted ways, but they did not spend the rest of their ministries criticizing one another. And they did not draw John Mark into tests of loyalty over their disagreement. In fact, just before Paul was martyred, he makes the statement, “Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).There are things that happen that make it nearly impossible for particular people to work together. But even if two Christians can't work together, they can be kind to one another. If we have differences with a brother, we can determine, “Even though I cannot work with this person, I am not going to be critical of him.”Paul in Prison“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice” (Philippians 1:15–18).Paul was in prison for no other reason than preaching the Word of God. He did not look at his prison time as a hindrance to the ministry, but as an opportunity to preach to the other prisoners, to the people in authority, and to all of the other leaders. No doubt, many of them were converted.Because of Paul's boldness, many other leaders became bold in preaching the gospel. Some of these were sincere. And evidently, some of these were just trying to irritate Paul. Yet, Paul's conclusion was that regardless of the preacher's motives, he would rejoice that Christ was being preached.Years ago, I determined that I, too, will rejoice when others are preaching the gospel. When God's Word is preached and people are getting saved, baptized, and added to the church, I am going to rejoice. Rather than being jealous or critical, I am going to rejoice.I think we independent Baptists need to take Jesus' words in John 13:35 more seriously than we do: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”If you are preaching the gospel, winning people to the Lord, discipling believers, and training leaders, you are my brother in Christ, and I love you, appreciate you, and will gladly pray for you. We can be brothers without being identical twins. Category Pastoral Leadership Tags Pastoral Leadership Christian Living

The Woke Agenda and Its Influence on Churches and CollegesDr. Paul ChappellWed, 03/29/2023 - 13:30 Over the past several years, the term woke has been used to describe people who have been awakened to the injustices of society, particularly in regards to racism. Many Christians, committed to displaying God's heart for the oppressed, have eagerly embraced the term.The “woke movement,” however, has grown much larger than the early definition of the term. There is an agenda driving it that is anti-Christian and steeped in anti-God philosophies.A working definition of wokism is impossible since even its strongest proponents apply the word in fluid settings. As defined by Merriam-Webster, to be woke means to be “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).”1 In a broader, more practical sense, however, author Owen Strachan pointed out,Wokeness is first and foremost a mindset and posture. The term itself means that one is “awake” to the true nature of the world when so many are asleep. In the most specific terms, this means one sees the comprehensive inequity of our social order and strives to highlight power structures in society that stem from racial privilege.2Conversations and ideas with people who subscribe to woke philosophies have reached far beyond racism to involve any topics related to inequality including social justice, sexism, economic philosophies, and LGBTQ acceptance.The way in which Christians address these issues relates directly to their view of Scripture. Second Timothy 3:16–17 asserts, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”A Christian with a high view of the accuracy, sufficiency, and authority of Scripture sees every social topic in light of the relative theological positions and practical instructions of God's Word. A mature Christian is discerning of the underlying philosophies that drive these discussions and holds each up to Scripture.Christians with a weak view of Scripture are more likely to allow the culture to both describe the problem and prescribe the solution. These Christians are more likely to suggest that basic Bible truths don't apply in particular settings or that the biblical writers did not fully understand such modern issues. Often, Christians who don't use the plainly-stated truths of Scripture as their compass will instead build subjective arguments based on “God's heart for ” or how they believe Jesus would respond to various areas of need.This undiscerning attitude is furthered by prominent Christian leaders who have jumped on the woke bandwagon. They may have been drifting from previously-held positions, but their recent statements clearly identify with the woke movement. For example,Andy Stanley, pastor of a nondenominational, multi-campus megachurch in Atlanta, recently spoke positively of gay Christians who attend church as “having more faith than I do.”3Rick Warren, the founding pastor of Saddleback Church, a Southern Baptist, multi-campus megachurch in Anaheim, recently ordained women as pastors and, more recently, defended this position as something more churches should do.4A recent article pointed to three Christian leaders who have become outspoken on woke-related issues and commented, “The direction [Russell] Moore, [David] French, and [Beth] Moore are walking is not simply traditional evangelicalism, but a form of cultural accommodation dressed as convictional religion. The result is a religious respectability that promotes national unity, liberalism, and wokeism under the rhetorical guise of love for neighbor.”5These unrelated examples point out the pervasiveness of woke philosophies in the church today.Biblical leaders must develop the spiritual discernment to cut through the woke rhetoric to understand the philosophies behind current issues and allow Scripture to shape their response. I hope this article is an aid to that end.In the next few pages, we will look at six woke-related issues, briefly describing each and bringing scriptural truths to bear. Additionally, I have included questions to help form discussions on each topic.Most of these topics employ terms not directly used in Scripture (e.g. “social justice” or “intersectionality”). My desire here is not to split hairs over terms or to insinuate that everything touching a given term is ungodly. My goal is simply to hold up the underlying philosophies to Scripture and encourage you to stand on thoroughly-biblical convictions.With that background, let's get started.Social JusticeEvery Bible-believing Christian desires justice for the oppressed (Deuteronomy 24:14–21, Micah 6:8). But the social justice movement of today has more to do with insisting that categories of people, as opposed to individuals, have not received justice over time and thus should be treated differently today—even when there are not immediate instances of injustice in an individual's life.Additionally, some of the categories commonly cited for need in social justice are drawn from the whole or subsegments of LGBT identities, effectively equating different convictions regarding same-sex marriage or transgender inclusion with racism or other forms of discrimination over immutable characteristics, such as ethnicity. There is a real push through the social justice movement of today to undermine the basic definitions of male and female as well as the institution of marriage. Many who are driving the social justice agenda have openly-stated goals for the destruction of the nuclear family and the promotion of an LBGT agenda.One example is from the leaders of the Black Lives Matter organization that came to prominence after the death of George Floyd.6 These leaders not only sought the demise of the nuclear family, but they openly shared their Marxist ideals.7 That woke-leaning Christians don't see through to the anti-Christian agendas at play is deeply concerning.An additional area of concern to the social justice movement is the way in which it conflates helping marginalized people with the sharing of the gospel. There is value to serving one's community, and there is definitely value to reaching out to people who are oppressed or marginalized in a community. But we must not equate these types of care with sharing the gospel. The Bible is clear that faith for salvation comes through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Yet, Timothy Keller, a pastor and author seems to equate the two. (Interestingly, Keller, a Christian apologist holds that God may have created the world through the evolutionary process.8) In Keller's church philosophy book Center Church, he writes, “Ministry in which Christians sacrificially serve the common good of the city is not only biblical but a necessary context for any convincing call to believe in Jesus.”9 In the same section he says that we cannot change culture simply “through lots of conversions.”10 This is simply not true. Scripture teaches that the truly converted become “a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). As someone grows in their faith, everything about their life will change, including developing biblical viewpoints on moral and social issues. Those who insist that a focus on social justice must accompany the gospel actually do the gospel itself an injustice by seemingly suggesting that conversion is not the answer.“Social justicians” often speak of redeeming the culture. Yet the Son of man came “to seek and to save” lost people (Luke 19:10). The “woke gospel” is another gospel, not the gospel of the New Testament. Instead of leading unsaved people to Christ, it leads people to social causes, some of which are anti-biblical. I have seen church buildings from Charlotte to San Fransisco displaying Black Lives Matter signs and rainbow flags, but those same churches are not sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and calling sinners to repentance. I am reminded of Paul's warning in Galatians 1:6, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.”Biblically defined, the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1–5). It is the satisfaction of the justice of God in the person of Christ paying for our sin, and it is the best news we can give to anyone who is not saved. We must not trivialize the actual gospel by hitching every social issue or injustice to it.Social justice, similar to the “social gospel” of the previous generation, is really a repackaging of liberal theology being presented as a substitute for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20).Questions:Why is it important to distinguish between the gospel and social issues?Is salvation through Christ enough? Or does preaching the gospel require preaching social, racial, economic, etc. redemption as well?In what ways would a Christian with a biblically-shaped worldview differ from a woke agenda on social justice? Gender Distinction, Sexual Orientation, and Same-Sex MarriageThe front line of the anti-God agenda in the West today is being waged on the battleground of LGBT issues. There is clearly a concentrated effort in secular society to overturn the cultural norms concerning gender, sexuality, and marriage. From the state recognition of same-sex marriage, to the drag queen “story hours” taking place in public libraries,11 to the inclusion of biological males who identify as females in women's sports,12 the LGBT movement is rolling full-steam ahead, even if it means crushing children, women, and society as a whole in its agenda.In his book The Gathering Storm, Albert Mohler insightfully wrote,The church of Jesus Christ faces an unprecedented challenge: the collision between it and a new sexual ethic, a collision between revelation and revolution. The evolution is a sexual one, and it is indeed a revolution, demanding a complete reordering of society and civilization.13What is most surprising to me in all of this is that woke Christians are buying into it. In an effort to be accepting of people who struggle they have become affirming of sin. Some go so far as to deny that Scripture addresses these issues at all. They suggest that Jesus and Paul didn't really understand or address the modern understandings of sexual orientation or transgenderism.14 In recently-surfaced comments, Pastor Andy Stanley called the clear passages on this issue “clobber passages.”15But the Bible is clear here. In Genesis 1, God created human life in His image and designated male and female. In Genesis 2, He ordained marriage. In the New Testament, Jesus referred to both of these chapters as He said, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matthew 19:4–5). Romans 1:24–28 condemns homosexuality in the clearest terms. In 1 Corinthians 6:9, Paul includes such acts in a list of sins. Furthermore, the Bible teaches that true conversion leads to turning away from sin. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (1 John 2:4–5).Yet, Christians who profess to believe and preach the Bible struggle to take a clear position on these issues.For example, the senior associate pastor of First Baptist Orlando in Florida read in a public church service a list of the variety of people attending and serving in the church. In these comments he said, “We have transgender, LGBTQ, straight, single, married, divorced, and cohabitating people. These same people attend, listen, serve, grow, and give.”16 I can appreciate the desire to let unsaved people with sinful lives know that the gospel is for them, but to indicate that people openly practicing—and even identifying themselves according to—unrepentant sin should become or continue as faithful congregants is, according to 1 Corinthians 5, a position that is foreign to the New Testament.Not only does First Baptist Orlando allow people living in open sexual sin to be members in good standing, however, it also allows these members to baptize new converts. Recent social media posts show Joe Mills, an openly gay man, currently “married” to another man, performing baptisms at First Baptist Church Orlando.17The problem is not ambiguity in Scripture. The problem is that Bible-believing Christians are either too cowardly or too confused to clearly state what the Bible actually says. In an effort to not offend, woke-leaning Christians take a position that these topics call for a more “nuanced” view.18Christians must study and come to firm convictions on what the Bible says about these issues. It is not unloving to say the truth to a world in need of a Savior.Questions:Do you believe Scripture is clear on its commands concerning sexual sins? Do you believe it addresses homosexuality and gender distinction clearly?Should a church welcome members who are engaged in any sexual activity outside of marriage?What is the most loving approach for a Christian in regards to someone who deals with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria? Egalitarianism and Women Being Ordained for MinistryIn the 1970s Gloria Steinem used the phrase “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle” to encapsulate and popularize the philosophy behind feminism. In an attempt to counter the unbiblical ideas embedded in feminism, biblical Christians coined the term complementarianism in the 1980s.19 The idea was to encapsulate the equality of men and women while differentiating their God-given roles in particular settings. The term was new, but the truths behind it are as old as Scripture.The New Testament is clear on the intrinsic value and spiritual worth of women. Both men and women are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and both are equal in Christ through salvation: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).But the New Testament is also clear that God gave men and women different roles in marriage (1 Peter 3:7) and in the church. Regarding the church, the Bible gives straightforward directions in both 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:35: “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” “And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” My wife Terrie is an avid student of God's Word and a capable Bible teacher. She has spoken to ladies over the years and has occasionally given a testimony of thanksgiving in our church assembly. But scripturally, neither she nor I believe it is a woman's place to teach or preach the Word of God in a mixed congregation.These views are not new and have been held by biblical Christians since the first century. In more recent years, however, woke or woke-leaning Christians are using the term egalitarian to describe a position that insists that men and women not only have equal value but also hold equal or interchangeable roles in all settings, including the home and church.This egalitarian position has set the stage for woke pastors whose previous theological convictions were complimentarian to ordain women to pastoral roles in ministry.20 Rick Warren, who was one of the leaders of the “seeker-sensitive movement” of the '90s, has been one of the most vocal to recently ordain women,21 even though this was not his position for his previous decades of ministry. After being disfellowshipped from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) over his new position, Warren was interviewed by Russell Moore, editor in chief of Christianity Today and previous president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the interview, Warren used poor exegesis to defend his culturally-popular views22 and stated he intends to seek to have the SBC decision overturned.23 But it's not just Warren. Other woke-leaning pastors have been quite willing to virtue signal their egalitarian views by inviting their wives to preach on occasion and making little or no distinction between themselves and their wives as pastors.Throughout the New Testament, we see women engaged in meaningful roles of ministry within the church. (See, for example, Acts 16:40, Acts 18:2, and Romans 16:1–2, 7.) When Christians cave to the accommodating stance of egalitarianism, they minimize the significant aspects of ministry God has given to women in the church.Questions:Do you believe Scripture differentiates between the roles of men and women in marriage and ministry? Do you believe women can biblically hold the title of “pastor”? Racism and Critical Race Theory Closely tied to woke philosophies is an adherence to Critical Race Theory (CRT). To once again quote Merriam-Webster, CRT refers to “the idea that race is a sociological rather than biological designation, and that racism pervades society and is fostered and perpetuated by the legal system.”24Racism is an ugly sin. Genesis 1:27 tells us that God made every person in His image, and Acts 17:25–26 affirms that we all have equal value in His sight. We are all of the same race—a fallen human race in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23–26). All of us come to God the same way—through Christ. Thus, the ground is level at the foot of the cross, and within the body of Christ, there is to be no favoritism (Colossians 3:11). The New Testament strongly condemns prejudice (James 2:8–9).The premise of CRT, however, is that “the very concept of race was constructed in order to benefit whites at the expense of people of color.”25 A result of this approach is that “Even if a white person has never had a genuinely racist thought or he has repented of past racism, he is still a racist, white supremacist, because he is white and belongs to the majority.”26This philosophy distorts the meaning of racism, redefining it from a sin of the heart to a result of one's skin color. Furthermore, this philosophy makes reconciliation with other believers and unity within a church impossible because it suggests that white church members will always be guilty of racism, not to mention the fact that non-white members cannot be guilty of racism. This is not only ridiculous, but it is actually sinister. It is ripping a real sin apart from its moral definition and making it responsible for all the ills of society.For a real-life example of how this plays out, here is a transcript from Matthew Hall, the former dean of Boyce College at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary from 2016-2019, as well as the former provost and senior vice president of academic administration at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary from 2019-2022, and also a former research fellow for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission from 2014-2022. In comments made as the guest of the Coffee and Cream podcast in 2018, Hall spoke to racial issues:I am a racist, okay, so if that freaks you out, if you think the worst thing somebody can call you is a racist, then you're not thinking biblically, because guess what, like, I'm gonna struggle with racism and white supremacy until the day I die and get my glorified body and in a completely renewed and sanctified mind. Because I am immersed in a culture where I benefit from racism all the time.27A few years ago, a pastor prayed at Baylor University's commencement exercises and denounced “a planet with too many straight, white men like me behind the steering wheel.”28 This type of virtue signaling is becoming more common even in evangelical circles.No one—especially no Christian—should think less of or despairingly toward someone because of their ethnicity, skin color, or background. And no one—especially no Christian—should assume they know the condition of another's heart based on his or her skin color.Questions:Does racism necessarily coincide with ethnicity or skin color? How did the churches of the New Testament experience and address racism and prejudice? (See Acts 10, Acts 15, and James 2.) Is their approach sufficient today?Intersectionality The idea behind intersectionality is something like a CRT-based point system in which you receive more points for the greater number of minority groups to which you belong. Or you could think of it as a Venn diagram with circles representing various oppressed or minority groups overlapping, creating an “intersectional” center that represents the most highly-oppressed. For instance, according to intersectionality, a straight white male would be considered to belong to three groups with no oppression (straight, white, and male) whereas a lesbian African-American female would be a highly-oppressed person belonging to three groups that experience oppression.Intersectionality divides the world into oppressors and victims. These divisions are built around group identities rather than personal experiences. And because there is no real way to right the wrongs of each group, intersectionality tends toward noisy virtue signaling without encouraging leaders to roll up their sleeves to discern and resolve underlying issues at play, preferring instead to perpetuate a sense of ongoing victimhood.Additionally, intersectionality gives victim groups the moral high ground based simply on the oppression they have suffered. This obliterates right and wrong in the biblical or moral sense, replacing it with victimization or oppression.One author described it this way:In the worldview of ideological social justice, authority is conferred, not by wisdom, age, position, or experience—but by victim status. Claims of oppression and victimization based on a subjective “lived experience” must be believed without question. The more intersectional victim-boxes one can check, the greater the moral authority. The greater the authority, the greater the power.29Concerning victimization, the Bible tells us that God personally cares for the oppressed (Psalm 9:9, 146:7). Jesus Himself “was oppressed, and he was afflicted” (Isaiah 53:7). In the Old Testament, God gave laws to Israel to prohibit taking advantage of vulnerable people such as foreigners, widows, fatherless, and the poor (Exodus 22:21–27). The Old Testament instructs, “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:17). Likewise, the New Testament commands Christians to care for those in need and specifically to “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27).The contrast between intersectionality and a biblical approach to oppression is threefold: First, the categories for concern are specific to personal experience rather than to a broad group (e.g. being a widow versus being a woman or being fatherless versus having a particular skin color). Second, the biblical instructions are given to protect against actual crimes and to relieve actual suffering rather than to perpetuate labels of victimhood. And finally, Scripture—not categories of victimization—provides the moral authority for what is right or wrong. There are real victims in our fallen world. There are countless hearts shattered by sin (their own or others) and suffering who are in need of God's love. Biblical Christians care to relieve their suffering. That relief does not come through faulty philosophies of victimhood but through the forgiveness offered through the glorious gospel of Christ and the grace given through the precious promises of His Word. For those who are in bondage to sin, Christ promises, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). To those who know Christ, He promises overcoming power in a trouble-filled world: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).Questions:From a biblical standpoint, what concerns arise by including the LGBT community in groups of oppression? In what ways might people who struggle in these areas actually be oppressed, and what is a biblical approach to healing?In what ways does intersectionality create victimhood out of sinful practices?Do you believe the gospel and God's Word are sufficient to address the needs of the oppressed?Anti-Capitalism and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) For reasons that seem more philosophical than practical, those who are woke are against free-market capitalism. This hatred for capitalism and the free market is part of what has given rise to Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) in financial sectors. ESG investing firms, banks, and government policies require those with whom they do business to support environmental causes, affirm anti-christian social stances, and maintain hiring quotas that are LGBT affirming.Not only are these philosophies unbiblical, but they are economically dangerous, as was seen in the recent collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). It wasn't until the aftermath of this bank's collapse that customers learned how ESG partially led to its demise. Due to woke hiring practices, only one member of the board of directors held previous experience in investment banking.30 And while the bank was tanking, its head of risk assessment was launching and leading LGBTQ programs instead of righting the ship.31 Additionally, before its shutdown, the bank “dropped an ESG report that outlined the company's focus on climate change.”32The dangers of ESG, however, are larger than the failure of a single bank or company. There is an underlying agenda to use ESG policies to strong-arm ordinary citizens into woke causes. For instance, during Covid lockdowns, those who protested against government policies in Canada had their bank accounts frozen.33 Already some Christian institutions are finding a need to switch banks because their accounts have been canceled for unexplained reasons.34 I believe that in the future, companies and churches that don't cooperate with ESG values will have their accounts canceled in greater number. It's possible that the ESG agreements will become a “mark or brand” businesses will be forced to take if they will get contracts and rates amenable to their success.Proponents of ESG dislike capitalism, claiming that it is systemically racist. If these claims were true, there would be good reason to look for another system. But these claims are not true, as author Owen Strachan points out: “Though woke leaders seek to replace the free market with state-controlled systems that will yield ‘equity' as they see it, the free market is actually a tremendous engine for good for all peoples. While not impervious to manipulation…the free market has fundamentally changed the world, lifting people across the world out of serfdom into freedom.”35 He continues with helpful statistics and details explaining how racism, such as slavery in the United States, actually hurts rather than helps capitalism wherever it is or has been practiced.36Scripture makes a direct connection between labor and provision: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The Bible instructs us to labor so that we might have and be able to give to others: “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). The New Testament strongly condemns men who do not provide for their household: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8). Economic systems that reward diligent labor with personal ownership of the fruits of that labor are to be commended. Christians who care for those in need should be discerning to see the woke hatred of capitalism for the pro-socialism agenda that is driving it. Although socialism promises to help the poor, it proposes this help based on other people's money and by building a larger government that will ultimately crush the poor. In reality, socialism has devastated the people and the economy of every country where it has been thoroughly implemented.37Questions:How does Scripture inform our view of money and economies? Every human system has weaknesses. What do you see as the greatest weaknesses in capitalism and socialism? ConclusionThere is a real need in our day for biblical Christians to be alert to worldly philosophies that masquerade as truth. I am concerned for the future orthodoxy of Christians who seek influence and ideas from those who are swayed by woke ideas. The practice of churches that exemplify woke and social justice philosophies today reveal their consumption of the “philosophy and vain deceit” spoken of in Colossians 2:8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”John Adams, second president of the United States, pointed out, “It is the duty of the clergy to accommodate their discourses to the times, to preach against such sins as are most prevalent, and recommend such virtues as are most wanted.”38Christian leaders today must be willing to clearly and unapologetically state what the Bible says. They must be willing to call sin what it is and must be clear in proclaiming the gospel through Jesus Christ.Scripture commands us that we are to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). As I have attempted to point out in these pages, the modern woke agenda is significant to “the faith” because it undermines the biblical understanding of such central truths as sin, forgiveness, and the gospel itself.If we are to make a difference in our world today, we must, like the apostle Paul, be willing to stand for truth under the stigma of the cross even when it seems strange to the world.“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).Dr. Paul Chappell has served as the pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, California, for thirty-seven years. He and his wife Terrie have been married for forty-two years and have four married children serving the Lord in ministry.lancasterbaptist.orgEndnotesMerriam-Webster, s.v. “woke,” accessed March 22, 2023, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woke.Owen Strachan, Christianity and Wokeness (Washington DC: Salem Books, 2021), 8.Adam Page, “What on earth…,” Twitter, January 23, 2023, https://twitter.com/AdamPage85/status/1617522150499577856.Russell Moore, “Rick Warren Reflects on His Legacy,” Christianity Today, March 8, 2023, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/russell-moore-show/rick-warren-legacy-saddleback-sbc-purpose-driven-life.html.Kylee Griswold, “Russell Moore Won't Celebrate Dobbs Because He'd Have To Admit Pro-Trump Christians Are Good At Loving Their Neighbors,” The Federalist, June 29, 2022, “https://thefederalist.com/2022/06/29/russell-moore-wont-celebrate-dobbs-because-hed-have-to-admit-pro-trump-christians-are-good-at-loving-their-neighbors/.Early in the wake of Floyd's death, blacklivesmatter.com included stated objectives on their homepage to “disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure,” “foster a queer‐affirming network,” and “do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege.” I detailed this in an article titled “Counter-Cultural Christians Needed,” published July 2, 2020 (https://paulchappell.com/2020/07/02/counter-culturalchristians-needed/). The statements were still on blacklivesmatter.com at that time.The group was founded by Patrisse Khan-Callours, Alisha Garza, and Opal Tometi, who are self-described Marxists. Answering an interviewer's question about BLM's ability to organize, Callours said, “We actually do have an ideological frame. Myself and Alicia in particular, were trained organizers. We are trained Marxists. We are super versed on ideological theories.” Patrisse's book When They Call You a Terrorist also references this as she described how she developed her current ideas: “I read, I study, adding Mao, Marx and Lenin to my knowledge of hooks . . . .” See Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele, When They Call You a Terrorist (New York: Saint Martin's Griffin, 2017), Kindle edition.Tim Keller, “Creation, Evolution, and Christian Laypeople,” BioLogos, February 23, 2012, https://biologos.org/articles/creation-evolution-and-christian-laypeople.Timothy Keller, Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 291.Ibid.Charles Creitz, “Drag queen story hour slammed as ‘sexualizing children' after Maryland library hosts interactive event: Drag queen story time events for children are part of a growing trend across the country,” Fox News, October 28, 2022, https://www.foxnews.com/media/drag-queen-story-hour-slammed-sexualizing-children-maryland-library-hosts-interactive-event.David Gortler, “Allowing Biological Males in Women's Sports is Scientifically Unsound,” Newsweek, October 6, 2022, https://www.newsweek.com/allowing-biological-males-womens-sports-scientifically-unsound-opinion-1748900.R. Albert Mohler Jr., The Gathering Storm (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2020), 87.“Revisionist Gay Theology: Did God Really Say..?” Focus on the Family, July 29, 2019, https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/revisionist-gay-theology-did-god-really-say/.Adam Page, “What on earth…,” Twitter, January 23, 2023, https://twitter.com/AdamPage85/status/1617522150499577856.“Prominent Southern Baptist Church Brags That Transgenders and Abortionists Serve in Their Church,” YouTube video, 00:37, posted by “The Dissenter,” February 7, 2022,Open, “Gay-Married” Homosexual Man Baptizes Other People at First Baptist Orlando, Disntr, March 13, 2023, https://disntr.com/2023/03/13/open-gay-married-homosexual-man-baptizes-other-people-at-first-baptist-orlando/.Jared Kennedy, “What do I do if my child doesn't seem to fit with typical gender norms?” Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, May 17, 2021, https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/what-do-i-do-if-my-child-doesnt-seem-to-fit-with-typical-gender-norms/?fbclid=IwAR0sXHMpztssG8iua4M24uwxcYic7x_kO_yfUc-cDG1z5fjaHkHaWRfS6Vk.Denny Burk, What's in a name? The meaning and origin of ‘complementarianism,'” The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, August 1, 2019, https://cbmw.org/2019/08/01/whats-in-a-name/.Nate Schlomann, NAMB and SBC Egalitarrianism, Servants and Heralds, February 8, 2021, https://www.servantsandheralds.com/namb-and-sbc-egalitarianism/.Saddleback Church, “Yesterday was a historic night…” Facebook, May 7, 2021, https://www.facebook.com/saddlebackchurch/posts/-yesterday-was-a-historic-night-for-saddleback-church-in-many-wayswe-ordained-ou/10159190549013544/.Russell Moore, “Rick Warren Reflects on His Legacy,” Christianity Today, March 8, 2023, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/russell-moore-show/rick-warren-legacy-saddleback-sbc-purpose-driven-life.html.Denny Burk, “Rick Warren Has Done the SBC a Great Service,” Denny Burk, March 14, 2023, https://www.dennyburk.com/rick-warren-has-done-the-sbc-a-great-service/.Merriam-Webster, s.v. “Critical Race Theory,” accessed March 22, 2023, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20race%20theory.Shannon Craigo-Snell and Christopher Doucot, No Innocent Bystanders (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017), 67.Ronnie W. Rogers, Understanding the Terms of Cultural Marxism (Social Justice): A Christian Response, Ronnie W. Rogers, June 29, 2020, https://ronniewrogers.com/2020/06/understanding-the-terms-of-cultural-marxism- social-justice-a-christian- response/.Jake Cannon and Matt Bryant, “Epidode 13: Seminaries And Radical Reconciliation With Matthew Hall,” YouTube video, 49:45, posted by “Coffee and Cream”, Jul 15, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwI82hKUTgI. Reference clip starts at 49:45.Todd Starnes, “Baylor University Prayer Denounces ‘Straight White Men,'” ToddStarnes.com, May 2, 2019, https://www.toddstarnes.com/faith/baylor-university-denounces-straight-white-men-in-graduation-prayer/.Scott D. Allen, Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice, (Grand Rapids, MI: Credo House Publishers, 2020), 67.“More ‘woke' companies are going to fail, former CEO warns: SVB collapse was ‘perfect storm,'” Fox News, March 15, 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/media/woke-companies-going-fail-former-ceo-warns-svb-collapse-perfect-stormAubrie Spady, “Head of risk assessment at Silicon Valley Bank invested in LGBTQ programs in months leading up to shutdown,” Fox News, March 13, 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/head-risk-assessment-silicon-valley-bank-invested-lgbtq-programs-months-leading-shutdownIbid.Siladitya Ray, “Canada Begins To Release Frozen Bank Accounts Of ‘Freedom Convoy' Protestors,” Forbes, February 23, 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/02/23/canada-begins-to-release-frozen-bank-accounts-of-freedom-convoy-protestors/.Dale Hurd, “Account Closed: Banks and Businesses Cancel Christians,” CBN News, January 3, 2023, https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2022/november/account-closed-banks-and-businesses-cancel-christians.Owen Strachan, Christianity and Wokeness (Washington DC: Salem Books, 2021), 124.Ibid.Benjamin Powell, “Hey, Millennials: Socialism Creates Poverty and Limits Freedom. So Stop Romanticizing It!,” Independent Institute, November 27, 2017, https://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=9206.Charles Francis Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Volume IV (Boston, MA: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1851), 56. Category Current Events

The Bible League International recently announced plans to distribute Bibles and discipleship information to immigrants living in and around Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.

This is a big wow to me. Our Bible institute student's and teacher's ministry. They go and teach full time bible classes in several public schools in the mountains of Honduras(in green shirts in photos). They sacrifice and do this free and full time all day, 5 days a week. The photos are them handing out bibles and using them in classes. The Bibles that were donated and sent to us. Through Directline Ministries..

See this and previous "Grace Notes" Newsletters In this edition: 5 Father's Day Sermons 'A Crippled Church'  5 Year Anniversary Celebration!  80% off plus EXTRA 20% off First Timer Info. from Pastor Jerry: "Praise the Lord!  We had our 3 millionth hit this week, almost exactly 5 years since this ministry began  Please read below for details on how we are sharing this blessing with you subscribers in the form of our best discount ever.  [ends June 30th] God bless you and HIS ministry thru you there!" New this week... 6/14/09 - "Crippled Church" - Revelation 3:1-6 Sardis is the dying or dead church. It could be our church. The problem and the prescription to fix it and make it once again the Lord’s Church.       5 Father's Day Sermons                                 Our Top Sermons     Anniversary Sale!  Best Deal in 5 years!   It won't happen like this again for another 5 years...          The Complete Collection [now save $700 for a limited time only!]   Now 80% off + another $20%!  [The new Rough Drafts Series has just been added for free thru this offer, below...] DO YOU HAVE 'THE COMPLETE COLLECTION'? Special pricing good thru the end of this month...   Get it on CD ROM or by instant download alternate link if above does not work  The Complete Collection Special Offer:  All 22 Series we offer by Instant Download     +Bonus: "Ark Almighty" "Allah is NOT My God" "Middle East for Dummies"         For a limited time, only...price subject to change!                       [1600+ Files!]                "Complete  Collection"                 $119.99   [$820.00 Value!]                                The Complete CollectionEverything we offer [all 22 series] in simple download format. 1600+ Files! Includes newly released series. Price: 119.99 USD You save $700 when you order the above!  And there's free shipping / no waiting when you use Instant Download …    Or, get it by mail in about 3 days on a CD ROM here.   [Hurry --  Prices subject to change] First Timer?...Here's some Tips on getting the helps you need:    We work hard to gather the best of free resources from numerous corners of the globe, and it's our privilege to share them all for free with you simply for the furthering of the Gospel, the growth of the Kingdom, and the joy of sharing!    Please feel free to copy and paste any of Pastor Jerry's original manuscripts from the site.  You are free to use them in live services without giving credit, along with the PowerPoint visuals provided.  Our CD ROMs are available by snail mail or Instant Download as a convenience only, but your purchases help support this growing ministry.  There are many benefits to getting our resources in this way, but as always, all materials are free to copy from the site if you don't mind the work and know how to retrieve them.    Have you heard?  All of our collections are downloadable, instantly.  It’s the same CD-ROMs only without the CD.  Download straight to your hard drive on up to 3 PCs, and burn a copy to take with you if you want.  No waiting, no shipping charges, and all files and folders are organized for you with no need for conversion or re-formatting.   Prices listed good for 1 week only.  Click link below for any recent changes. Click here to see our “Instant Download” Page  Or, place your order right here, below...    [no waiting, no shipping]     "There's a few thousand of you who now subscribe to these free 'Grace Notes' ...and for every one of you there's a hundred more who use the site regularly...to God be the glory!  God has used the tool of your POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS over the last 4 years to make this all possible.  It's all free because of those of you who use the voting links on each sermon, and it helps spread the Word of God at the same time. Sermon Central is where many of you learned of this ministry, and they have changed their voting to the 'star system'.  [rate up to 5 stars with a click]  It's easier than before and I think better.  In 10 seconds you can make a difference in 3 simple steps:  1.) Click on the 'recommend' button under any sermon on our site  2.) The same sermon will open up in a new page on the SC site...click on the 'rate this sermon' link right below the 5 stars  3.) Click on the far right star to give the highest recommendation if you can." Bonus Sermons included only in the "Complete Collection":    "Ark Almighty" - Hebrews 11:7 Uses "Evan Almighty" theme - GET SAVED, GET RIGHT, GET INTO CHURCH!  How parents of today can construct an ark of protection for their household.          "Allah is NOT My God" - Genesis 16:11-12 The real ‘Path to 911’ started with Ishmael.  A study of the differences between Christians and Muslims, Jehovah God and Allah, and Jesus Christ and Mohammed.  Islam is not just another denomination down the street.  Learn what they believe and why, and the terrorism connection in light of Bible Prophecy.     "Israel & The Middle East For Dummies"  - Genesis 12:1-3; 16:1-4; Psalm 122:6 Christians of all people should not be ignorant of these things, and the signs of the 'end times' now upon us. For a limited time these sermons come as free gifts when you order our ‘Complete Collection’   Call us if you have any trouble using your credit card thru PayPal:  217-877-0009 [Note:  We cannot process orders by phone, but still may be able to help with your online order or by snail mail order.  You may need to leave a message for call back.] If you prefer, you may send a check to:                  Grace Notes 3770 N. Water St Decatur, IL   62526 [please add $5 for processing and include the email address you'd like your download link sent to, or physical address if you prefer to receive it by mail as a CD ROM]  More questions?  Call us at 217-877-0009 or Write us.     You say:  "It's amazing that this ministry is free...no one else is doing this with Sermons and PowerPoints"    We say:  Please help keep it free by honoring our system:  By design and intent, this sermon service will always be free-but this is made possible by those of you who take the brief moment required to vote for the sermons after you click on them.  You do this from the link on each sermon’s page which says… Click here to recommend this sermon ministry to others.  Help spread the Word by casting your vote...it's a proven system that keeps this ministry free! If you don’t, it’s still free…But many thanks go to those who help make it free for everyone and are helping to spread the Word in the process…you too have the “spirit of sharing” and are a great part of this ministry!  How have some received a series at no cost?    Benefits to CD-ROMs: ·         No downloading, no waiting, no confusion. ·         No cutting and pasting.  Text comes completely formatted in Microsoft Word. ·         No hassles converting PowerPoint "pps" files to "ppt". ·         Already organized in folders for easy indexing. *Remember, all sermons on the site are free to download if you don't mind the work.    Your Feedback:   “I received my CD...these sermons will be a great help to me. My situation limits how much time I can put into sermon preparation.  Grace Notes gets me started, and then the Lord helps me to make it my own.”            Pastor-USA    Welcome to many new subscribers this week, you number in the thousands…to God be the glory!  You can help broaden our influence when you forward these links to others you believe may benefit.  They can sign up at the “Grace Notes” homepage.    Those who want to say “thank you”…please, just vote for the sermons at the link on each sermon’s own page and forward these links to others…it all helps this ministry expand which in turn helps the Kingdom of God to grow…which is what it’s all about. International Users:  Don’t forget to sign the GuestMap below and show us ‘where in the world you are!’  Get a custom logo like ours at Faith's Attic   Have a wonderful day, be blessed, and enjoy!       Pastor Jerry Shirley & Grace Notes Staff                See our Help Section     See previous Grace Notes Newsletters

See this and previous "Grace Notes" Newsletters In this edition: 5 Father's Day Sermons 'A Crippled Church'  5 Year Anniversary Celebration!  80% off plus EXTRA 20% off First Timer Info. from Pastor Jerry: "Praise the Lord!  We had our 3 millionth hit this week, almost exactly 5 years since this ministry began  Please read below for details on how we are sharing this blessing with you subscribers in the form of our best discount ever.  [ends June 30th] God bless you and HIS ministry thru you there!" New this week... 6/14/09 - "Crippled Church" - Revelation 3:1-6 Sardis is the dying or dead church. It could be our church. The problem and the prescription to fix it and make it once again the Lord’s Church.       5 Father's Day Sermons                                 Our Top Sermons     Anniversary Sale!  Best Deal in 5 years!   It won't happen like this again for another 5 years...          The Complete Collection [now save $700 for a limited time only!]   Now 80% off + another $20%!  [The new Rough Drafts Series has just been added for free thru this offer, below...] DO YOU HAVE 'THE COMPLETE COLLECTION'? Special pricing good thru the end of this month...   Get it on CD ROM or by instant download alternate link if above does not work  The Complete Collection Special Offer:  All 22 Series we offer by Instant Download     +Bonus: "Ark Almighty" "Allah is NOT My God" "Middle East for Dummies"         For a limited time, only...price subject to change!                       [1600+ Files!]                "Complete  Collection"                 $119.99   [$820.00 Value!]                                The Complete CollectionEverything we offer [all 22 series] in simple download format. 1600+ Files! Includes newly released series. Price: 119.99 USD You save $700 when you order the above!  And there's free shipping / no waiting when you use Instant Download …    Or, get it by mail in about 3 days on a CD ROM here.   [Hurry --  Prices subject to change] First Timer?...Here's some Tips on getting the helps you need:    We work hard to gather the best of free resources from numerous corners of the globe, and it's our privilege to share them all for free with you simply for the furthering of the Gospel, the growth of the Kingdom, and the joy of sharing!    Please feel free to copy and paste any of Pastor Jerry's original manuscripts from the site.  You are free to use them in live services without giving credit, along with the PowerPoint visuals provided.  Our CD ROMs are available by snail mail or Instant Download as a convenience only, but your purchases help support this growing ministry.  There are many benefits to getting our resources in this way, but as always, all materials are free to copy from the site if you don't mind the work and know how to retrieve them.    Have you heard?  All of our collections are downloadable, instantly.  It’s the same CD-ROMs only without the CD.  Download straight to your hard drive on up to 3 PCs, and burn a copy to take with you if you want.  No waiting, no shipping charges, and all files and folders are organized for you with no need for conversion or re-formatting.   Prices listed good for 1 week only.  Click link below for any recent changes. Click here to see our “Instant Download” Page  Or, place your order right here, below...    [no waiting, no shipping]     "There's a few thousand of you who now subscribe to these free 'Grace Notes' ...and for every one of you there's a hundred more who use the site regularly...to God be the glory!  God has used the tool of your POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS over the last 4 years to make this all possible.  It's all free because of those of you who use the voting links on each sermon, and it helps spread the Word of God at the same time. Sermon Central is where many of you learned of this ministry, and they have changed their voting to the 'star system'.  [rate up to 5 stars with a click]  It's easier than before and I think better.  In 10 seconds you can make a difference in 3 simple steps:  1.) Click on the 'recommend' button under any sermon on our site  2.) The same sermon will open up in a new page on the SC site...click on the 'rate this sermon' link right below the 5 stars  3.) Click on the far right star to give the highest recommendation if you can." Bonus Sermons included only in the "Complete Collection":    "Ark Almighty" - Hebrews 11:7 Uses "Evan Almighty" theme - GET SAVED, GET RIGHT, GET INTO CHURCH!  How parents of today can construct an ark of protection for their household.          "Allah is NOT My God" - Genesis 16:11-12 The real ‘Path to 911’ started with Ishmael.  A study of the differences between Christians and Muslims, Jehovah God and Allah, and Jesus Christ and Mohammed.  Islam is not just another denomination down the street.  Learn what they believe and why, and the terrorism connection in light of Bible Prophecy.     "Israel & The Middle East For Dummies"  - Genesis 12:1-3; 16:1-4; Psalm 122:6 Christians of all people should not be ignorant of these things, and the signs of the 'end times' now upon us. For a limited time these sermons come as free gifts when you order our ‘Complete Collection’   Call us if you have any trouble using your credit card thru PayPal:  217-877-0009 [Note:  We cannot process orders by phone, but still may be able to help with your online order or by snail mail order.  You may need to leave a message for call back.] If you prefer, you may send a check to:                  Grace Notes 3770 N. Water St Decatur, IL   62526 [please add $5 for processing and include the email address you'd like your download link sent to, or physical address if you prefer to receive it by mail as a CD ROM]  More questions?  Call us at 217-877-0009 or Write us.     You say:  "It's amazing that this ministry is free...no one else is doing this with Sermons and PowerPoints"    We say:  Please help keep it free by honoring our system:  By design and intent, this sermon service will always be free-but this is made possible by those of you who take the brief moment required to vote for the sermons after you click on them.  You do this from the link on each sermon’s page which says… Click here to recommend this sermon ministry to others.  Help spread the Word by casting your vote...it's a proven system that keeps this ministry free! If you don’t, it’s still free…But many thanks go to those who help make it free for everyone and are helping to spread the Word in the process…you too have the “spirit of sharing” and are a great part of this ministry!  How have some received a series at no cost?    Benefits to CD-ROMs: ·         No downloading, no waiting, no confusion. ·         No cutting and pasting.  Text comes completely formatted in Microsoft Word. ·         No hassles converting PowerPoint "pps" files to "ppt". ·         Already organized in folders for easy indexing. *Remember, all sermons on the site are free to download if you don't mind the work.    Your Feedback:   “I received my CD...these sermons will be a great help to me. My situation limits how much time I can put into sermon preparation.  Grace Notes gets me started, and then the Lord helps me to make it my own.”            Pastor-USA    Welcome to many new subscribers this week, you number in the thousands…to God be the glory!  You can help broaden our influence when you forward these links to others you believe may benefit.  They can sign up at the “Grace Notes” homepage.    Those who want to say “thank you”…please, just vote for the sermons at the link on each sermon’s own page and forward these links to others…it all helps this ministry expand which in turn helps the Kingdom of God to grow…which is what it’s all about. International Users:  Don’t forget to sign the GuestMap below and show us ‘where in the world you are!’  Get a custom logo like ours at Faith's Attic   Have a wonderful day, be blessed, and enjoy!       Pastor Jerry Shirley & Grace Notes Staff                See our Help Section     See previous Grace Notes Newsletters

See previous "Grace Notes" Newsletters In this edition: 5 Father's Day Sermons Our all time top messages  5 Year Anniversary Celebration!  80% off plus EXTRA 20% off First Timer Info. from Pastor Jerry: "At the present rate we will reach our goal of 3 million hits sometime this week!  Please read below for details on how we are sharing this blessing with you subscribers in the form of our best discount ever.  God bless you and HIS ministry thru you there!"  5 Father's Day Sermons                                 Our Top Sermons     Anniversary Sale!  Best Deal in 5 years!   It won't happen like this again for another 5 years...          The Complete Collection [now save $700 for a limited time only!]   Now 80% off + another $20%!  [The new Rough Drafts Series has just been added for free thru this offer, below...] DO YOU HAVE 'THE COMPLETE COLLECTION'? Special pricing good thru the end of this month...   Get it on CD ROM or by instant download alternate link if above does not work  The Complete Collection Special Offer:  All 22 Series we offer by Instant Download     +Bonus: "Ark Almighty" "Allah is NOT My God" "Middle East for Dummies"         For a limited time, only...price subject to change!                       [1600+ Files!]                "Complete  Collection"                 $119.99   [$820.00 Value!]                                The Complete CollectionEverything we offer [all 22 series] in simple download format. 1600+ Files! Includes newly released series. Price: 119.99 USD You save $700 when you order the above!  And there's free shipping / no waiting when you use Instant Download …    Or, get it by mail in about 3 days on a CD ROM here.   [Hurry --  Prices subject to change] First Timer?...Here's some Tips on getting the helps you need:    We work hard to gather the best of free resources from numerous corners of the globe, and it's our privilege to share them all for free with you simply for the furthering of the Gospel, the growth of the Kingdom, and the joy of sharing!    Please feel free to copy and paste any of Pastor Jerry's original manuscripts from the site.  You are free to use them in live services without giving credit, along with the PowerPoint visuals provided.  Our CD ROMs are available by snail mail or Instant Download as a convenience only, but your purchases help support this growing ministry.  There are many benefits to getting our resources in this way, but as always, all materials are free to copy from the site if you don't mind the work and know how to retrieve them.    Have you heard?  All of our collections are downloadable, instantly.  It’s the same CD-ROMs only without the CD.  Download straight to your hard drive on up to 3 PCs, and burn a copy to take with you if you want.  No waiting, no shipping charges, and all files and folders are organized for you with no need for conversion or re-formatting.   Prices listed good for 1 week only.  Click link below for any recent changes. Click here to see our “Instant Download” Page  Or, place your order right here, below...    [no waiting, no shipping]     "There's a few thousand of you who now subscribe to these free 'Grace Notes' ...and for every one of you there's a hundred more who use the site regularly...to God be the glory!  God has used the tool of your POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS over the last 4 years to make this all possible.  It's all free because of those of you who use the voting links on each sermon, and it helps spread the Word of God at the same time. Sermon Central is where many of you learned of this ministry, and they have changed their voting to the 'star system'.  [rate up to 5 stars with a click]  It's easier than before and I think better.  In 10 seconds you can make a difference in 3 simple steps:  1.) Click on the 'recommend' button under any sermon on our site  2.) The same sermon will open up in a new page on the SC site...click on the 'rate this sermon' link right below the 5 stars  3.) Click on the far right star to give the highest recommendation if you can." Bonus Sermons included only in the "Complete Collection":    "Ark Almighty" - Hebrews 11:7 Uses "Evan Almighty" theme - GET SAVED, GET RIGHT, GET INTO CHURCH!  How parents of today can construct an ark of protection for their household.          "Allah is NOT My God" - Genesis 16:11-12 The real ‘Path to 911’ started with Ishmael.  A study of the differences between Christians and Muslims, Jehovah God and Allah, and Jesus Christ and Mohammed.  Islam is not just another denomination down the street.  Learn what they believe and why, and the terrorism connection in light of Bible Prophecy.     "Israel & The Middle East For Dummies"  - Genesis 12:1-3; 16:1-4; Psalm 122:6 Christians of all people should not be ignorant of these things, and the signs of the 'end times' now upon us. For a limited time these sermons come as free gifts when you order our ‘Complete Collection’   Call us if you have any trouble using your credit card thru PayPal:  217-877-0009 [Note:  We cannot process orders by phone, but still may be able to help with your online order or by snail mail order.  You may need to leave a message for call back.] If you prefer, you may send a check to:                  Grace Notes 3770 N. Water St Decatur, IL   62526 [please add $5 for processing and include the email address you'd like your download link sent to, or physical address if you prefer to receive it by mail as a CD ROM]  More questions?  Call us at 217-877-0009 or Write us.     You say:  "It's amazing that this ministry is free...no one else is doing this with Sermons and PowerPoints"    We say:  Please help keep it free by honoring our system:  By design and intent, this sermon service will always be free-but this is made possible by those of you who take the brief moment required to vote for the sermons after you click on them.  You do this from the link on each sermon’s page which says… Click here to recommend this sermon ministry to others.  Help spread the Word by casting your vote...it's a proven system that keeps this ministry free! If you don’t, it’s still free…But many thanks go to those who help make it free for everyone and are helping to spread the Word in the process…you too have the “spirit of sharing” and are a great part of this ministry!  How have some received a series at no cost?    Benefits to CD-ROMs: ·         No downloading, no waiting, no confusion. ·         No cutting and pasting.  Text comes completely formatted in Microsoft Word. ·         No hassles converting PowerPoint "pps" files to "ppt". ·         Already organized in folders for easy indexing. *Remember, all sermons on the site are free to download if you don't mind the work.    Your Feedback:   “I received my CD...these sermons will be a great help to me. My situation limits how much time I can put into sermon preparation.  Grace Notes gets me started, and then the Lord helps me to make it my own.”            Pastor-USA    Welcome to many new subscribers this week, you number in the thousands…to God be the glory!  You can help broaden our influence when you forward these links to others you believe may benefit.  They can sign up at the “Grace Notes” homepage.    Those who want to say “thank you”…please, just vote for the sermons at the link on each sermon’s own page and forward these links to others…it all helps this ministry expand which in turn helps the Kingdom of God to grow…which is what it’s all about. International Users:  Don’t forget to sign the GuestMap below and show us ‘where in the world you are!’  Get a custom logo like ours at Faith's Attic   Have a wonderful day, be blessed, and enjoy!       Pastor Jerry Shirley & Grace Notes Staff                See our Help Section     See previous Grace Notes Newsletters

See previous "Grace Notes" Newsletters In this edition: This Week's New PowerPoint Sermon  5 Year Anniversary Celebration!  80% off plus EXTRA 20% off First Timer Info. from Pastor Jerry: "25,000 sermon downloads this week puts us within just about 50,000 of our goal of 3 MILLION hits by the end of June, which marks 5 years for this sermon site.  Please read below for details on how we are sharing this blessing with you subscribers in the form of our best discount ever.  God bless you and HIS ministry thru you there!"   There is nothing like family time, and our family is in the middle of a great vacation at this writing.  Be blessed and enjoy this special summer vacation themed message... 5/21/09 - "On the Road Again" - Matthew 7:13 An object lesson with scriptural points - 10 things for the checklist as you hit the highway of life.       Anniversary Sale!  Best Deal in 5 years!   It won't happen like this again for another 5 years...          The Complete Collection [now save $700 for a limited time only!]   Now 80% off + another $20%!  [The new Rough Drafts Series has just been added for free thru this offer, below...] DO YOU HAVE 'THE COMPLETE COLLECTION'? Special pricing good thru the end of this month...   Get it on CD ROM or by instant download alternate link if above does not work  The Complete Collection Special Offer:  All 22 Series we offer by Instant Download     +Bonus: "Ark Almighty" "Allah is NOT My God" "Middle East for Dummies"         For a limited time, only...price subject to change!                       [1600+ Files!]                "Complete  Collection"                 $119.99   [$820.00 Value!]                                The Complete CollectionEverything we offer [all 22 series] in simple download format. 1600+ Files! Includes newly released series. Price: 119.99 USD You save $700 when you order the above!  And there's free shipping / no waiting when you use Instant Download …    Or, get it by mail in about 3 days on a CD ROM here.   [Hurry --  Prices subject to change] First Timer?...Here's some Tips on getting the helps you need:    We work hard to gather the best of free resources from numerous corners of the globe, and it's our privilege to share them all for free with you simply for the furthering of the Gospel, the growth of the Kingdom, and the joy of sharing!    Please feel free to copy and paste any of Pastor Jerry's original manuscripts from the site.  You are free to use them in live services without giving credit, along with the PowerPoint visuals provided.  Our CD ROMs are available by snail mail or Instant Download as a convenience only, but your purchases help support this growing ministry.  There are many benefits to getting our resources in this way, but as always, all materials are free to copy from the site if you don't mind the work and know how to retrieve them.    Have you heard?  All of our collections are downloadable, instantly.  It’s the same CD-ROMs only without the CD.  Download straight to your hard drive on up to 3 PCs, and burn a copy to take with you if you want.  No waiting, no shipping charges, and all files and folders are organized for you with no need for conversion or re-formatting.   Prices listed good for 1 week only.  Click link below for any recent changes. Click here to see our “Instant Download” Page  Or, place your order right here, below...    [no waiting, no shipping]     "There's a few thousand of you who now subscribe to these free 'Grace Notes' ...and for every one of you there's a hundred more who use the site regularly...to God be the glory!  God has used the tool of your POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS over the last 4 years to make this all possible.  It's all free because of those of you who use the voting links on each sermon, and it helps spread the Word of God at the same time. Sermon Central is where many of you learned of this ministry, and they have changed their voting to the 'star system'.  [rate up to 5 stars with a click]  It's easier than before and I think better.  In 10 seconds you can make a difference in 3 simple steps:  1.) Click on the 'recommend' button under any sermon on our site  2.) The same sermon will open up in a new page on the SC site...click on the 'rate this sermon' link right below the 5 stars  3.) Click on the far right star to give the highest recommendation if you can." Bonus Sermons included only in the "Complete Collection":    "Ark Almighty" - Hebrews 11:7 Uses "Evan Almighty" theme - GET SAVED, GET RIGHT, GET INTO CHURCH!  How parents of today can construct an ark of protection for their household.          "Allah is NOT My God" - Genesis 16:11-12 The real ‘Path to 911’ started with Ishmael.  A study of the differences between Christians and Muslims, Jehovah God and Allah, and Jesus Christ and Mohammed.  Islam is not just another denomination down the street.  Learn what they believe and why, and the terrorism connection in light of Bible Prophecy.     "Israel & The Middle East For Dummies"  - Genesis 12:1-3; 16:1-4; Psalm 122:6 Christians of all people should not be ignorant of these things, and the signs of the 'end times' now upon us. For a limited time these sermons come as free gifts when you order our ‘Complete Collection’   Call us if you have any trouble using your credit card thru PayPal:  217-877-0009 [Note:  We cannot process orders by phone, but still may be able to help with your online order or by snail mail order.  You may need to leave a message for call back.] If you prefer, you may send a check to:                  Grace Notes 3770 N. Water St Decatur, IL   62526 [please add $5 for processing and include the email address you'd like your download link sent to, or physical address if you prefer to receive it by mail as a CD ROM]  More questions?  Call us at 217-877-0009 or Write us.     You say:  "It's amazing that this ministry is free...no one else is doing this with Sermons and PowerPoints"    We say:  Please help keep it free by honoring our system:  By design and intent, this sermon service will always be free-but this is made possible by those of you who take the brief moment required to vote for the sermons after you click on them.  You do this from the link on each sermon’s page which says… Click here to recommend this sermon ministry to others.  Help spread the Word by casting your vote...it's a proven system that keeps this ministry free! If you don’t, it’s still free…But many thanks go to those who help make it free for everyone and are helping to spread the Word in the process…you too have the “spirit of sharing” and are a great part of this ministry!  How have some received a series at no cost?    Benefits to CD-ROMs: ·         No downloading, no waiting, no confusion. ·         No cutting and pasting.  Text comes completely formatted in Microsoft Word. ·         No hassles converting PowerPoint "pps" files to "ppt". ·         Already organized in folders for easy indexing. *Remember, all sermons on the site are free to download if you don't mind the work.    Your Feedback:   “I received my CD...these sermons will be a great help to me. My situation limits how much time I can put into sermon preparation.  Grace Notes gets me started, and then the Lord helps me to make it my own.”            Pastor-USA    Welcome to many new subscribers this week, you number in the thousands…to God be the glory!  You can help broaden our influence when you forward these links to others you believe may benefit.  They can sign up at the “Grace Notes” homepage.    Those who want to say “thank you”…please, just vote for the sermons at the link on each sermon’s own page and forward these links to others…it all helps this ministry expand which in turn helps the Kingdom of God to grow…which is what it’s all about. International Users:  Don’t forget to sign the GuestMap below and show us ‘where in the world you are!’  Get a custom logo like ours at Faith's Attic   Have a wonderful day, be blessed, and enjoy!       Pastor Jerry Shirley & Grace Notes Staff                See our Help Section     See previous Grace Notes Newsletters

See previous "Grace Notes" Newsletters In this edition: This Week's 2 New PowerPoint Sermons Grace Notes 5 Year Anniversary! First Timer Info. from Pastor Jerry: "5 years, and approaching 3 millions hits!  We never dreamed God had this in store for us.  Please read below for details on how we are sharing this blessing with you subscribers in the form of our best discount ever.  God bless you and HIS ministry thru you there!" 2 parts, just released: 5/24/09 - "Corrupt Church" - Revelation 2:18-29 Thyatira is a corrupt church. They do many great works, but God does not even address them as His children. It’s still here today and is key to the end of the world.         Anniversary Sale!  Best Deal in 5 years!   It won't happen like this again for another 5 years...          The Complete Collection [now save $700 for a limited time only!]   Now 80% off + another $20%!  [The new Rough Drafts Series has just been added for free thru this offer, below...] DO YOU HAVE 'THE COMPLETE COLLECTION'? Special pricing good thru the end of this month...   Get it on CD ROM or by instant download alternate link if above does not work  The Complete Collection Special Offer:  All 22 Series we offer by Instant Download     +Bonus: "Ark Almighty" "Allah is NOT My God" "Middle East for Dummies"         For a limited time, only...price subject to change!                       [1600+ Files!]                "Complete  Collection"                 $119.99   [$820.00 Value!]                                The Complete CollectionEverything we offer [all 22 series] in simple download format. 1600+ Files! Includes newly released series. Price: 119.99 USD You save $700 when you order the above!  And there's free shipping / no waiting when you use Instant Download …    Or, get it by mail in about 3 days on a CD ROM here.   [Hurry --  Prices subject to change] First Timer?...Here's some Tips on getting the helps you need:    We work hard to gather the best of free resources from numerous corners of the globe, and it's our privilege to share them all for free with you simply for the furthering of the Gospel, the growth of the Kingdom, and the joy of sharing!    Please feel free to copy and paste any of Pastor Jerry's original manuscripts from the site.  You are free to use them in live services without giving credit, along with the PowerPoint visuals provided.  Our CD ROMs are available by snail mail or Instant Download as a convenience only, but your purchases help support this growing ministry.  There are many benefits to getting our resources in this way, but as always, all materials are free to copy from the site if you don't mind the work and know how to retrieve them.    Have you heard?  All of our collections are downloadable, instantly.  It’s the same CD-ROMs only without the CD.  Download straight to your hard drive on up to 3 PCs, and burn a copy to take with you if you want.  No waiting, no shipping charges, and all files and folders are organized for you with no need for conversion or re-formatting.   Prices listed good for 1 week only.  Click link below for any recent changes. Click here to see our “Instant Download” Page  Or, place your order right here, below...    [no waiting, no shipping]     "There's a few thousand of you who now subscribe to these free 'Grace Notes' ...and for every one of you there's a hundred more who use the site regularly...to God be the glory!  God has used the tool of your POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS over the last 4 years to make this all possible.  It's all free because of those of you who use the voting links on each sermon, and it helps spread the Word of God at the same time. Sermon Central is where many of you learned of this ministry, and they have changed their voting to the 'star system'.  [rate up to 5 stars with a click]  It's easier than before and I think better.  In 10 seconds you can make a difference in 3 simple steps:  1.) Click on the 'recommend' button under any sermon on our site  2.) The same sermon will open up in a new page on the SC site...click on the 'rate this sermon' link right below the 5 stars  3.) Click on the far right star to give the highest recommendation if you can." Bonus Sermons included only in the "Complete Collection":    "Ark Almighty" - Hebrews 11:7 Uses "Evan Almighty" theme - GET SAVED, GET RIGHT, GET INTO CHURCH!  How parents of today can construct an ark of protection for their household.          "Allah is NOT My God" - Genesis 16:11-12 The real ‘Path to 911’ started with Ishmael.  A study of the differences between Christians and Muslims, Jehovah God and Allah, and Jesus Christ and Mohammed.  Islam is not just another denomination down the street.  Learn what they believe and why, and the terrorism connection in light of Bible Prophecy.     "Israel & The Middle East For Dummies"  - Genesis 12:1-3; 16:1-4; Psalm 122:6 Christians of all people should not be ignorant of these things, and the signs of the 'end times' now upon us. For a limited time these sermons come as free gifts when you order our ‘Complete Collection’   Call us if you have any trouble using your credit card thru PayPal:  217-877-0009 [Note:  We cannot process orders by phone, but still may be able to help with your online order or by snail mail order.  You may need to leave a message for call back.] If you prefer, you may send a check to:                  Grace Notes 3770 N. Water St Decatur, IL   62526 [please add $5 for processing and include the email address you'd like your download link sent to, or physical address if you prefer to receive it by mail as a CD ROM]  More questions?  Call us at 217-877-0009 or Write us.     You say:  "It's amazing that this ministry is free...no one else is doing this with Sermons and PowerPoints"    We say:  Please help keep it free by honoring our system:  By design and intent, this sermon service will always be free-but this is made possible by those of you who take the brief moment required to vote for the sermons after you click on them.  You do this from the link on each sermon’s page which says… Click here to recommend this sermon ministry to others.  Help spread the Word by casting your vote...it's a proven system that keeps this ministry free! If you don’t, it’s still free…But many thanks go to those who help make it free for everyone and are helping to spread the Word in the process…you too have the “spirit of sharing” and are a great part of this ministry!  How have some received a series at no cost?    Benefits to CD-ROMs: ·         No downloading, no waiting, no confusion. ·         No cutting and pasting.  Text comes completely formatted in Microsoft Word. ·         No hassles converting PowerPoint "pps" files to "ppt". ·         Already organized in folders for easy indexing. *Remember, all sermons on the site are free to download if you don't mind the work.    Your Feedback:   “I received my CD...these sermons will be a great help to me. My situation limits how much time I can put into sermon preparation.  Grace Notes gets me started, and then the Lord helps me to make it my own.”            Pastor-USA    Welcome to many new subscribers this week, you number in the thousands…to God be the glory!  You can help broaden our influence when you forward these links to others you believe may benefit.  They can sign up at the “Grace Notes” homepage.    Those who want to say “thank you”…please, just vote for the sermons at the link on each sermon’s own page and forward these links to others…it all helps this ministry expand which in turn helps the Kingdom of God to grow…which is what it’s all about. International Users:  Don’t forget to sign the GuestMap below and show us ‘where in the world you are!’  Get a custom logo like ours at Faith's Attic   Have a wonderful day, be blessed, and enjoy!       Pastor Jerry Shirley & Grace Notes Staff                See our Help Section     See previous Grace Notes Newsletters

See previous "Grace Notes" Newsletters In this edition: This Week's 2 New PowerPoint Sermons Memorial Day Section Grace Notes 5 Year Anniversary! First Timer Info. from Pastor Jerry: "5 years, and approaching 3 millions hits!  We never dreamed God had this in store for us.  Please read below for details on how we are sharing this blessing with you subscribers in the form of our best discount ever.  God bless you and HIS ministry thru you there!" Just released: 5/17/09 - "Compromising Church" - Revelation 2:12-17 Like Pergamos, today's church seems to keep only a moderate distance from the world, but both the world AND the church are moving downhill in tandem, and further away from Jesus. The world is looking for something more real before they'll get saved!     5/13/09 - "I Only Work on Sundays!" - 1 Corinthians 4:1-21 I have learned that everyone knows what the pastor should be doing except me. That is exactly what Paul was saying to this church in Corinth--and things haven’t changed much after all of these years. New section in progress!   Memorial Day Section     Anniversary Sale!  Best Deal in 5 years!   It won't happen like this again for another 5 years...          The Complete Collection [now save $700 for a limited time only!]   Now 80% off + another $20%!  [The new Rough Drafts Series has just been added for free thru this offer, below...] DO YOU HAVE 'THE COMPLETE COLLECTION'? Special pricing good thru the end of this month...   Get it on CD ROM or by instant download alternate link if above does not work  The Complete Collection Special Offer:  All 22 Series we offer by Instant Download     +Bonus: "Ark Almighty" "Allah is NOT My God" "Middle East for Dummies"         For a limited time, only...price subject to change!                       [1600+ Files!]                "Complete  Collection"                 $119.99   [$820.00 Value!]                                The Complete CollectionEverything we offer [all 22 series] in simple download format. 1600+ Files! Includes newly released series. Price: 119.99 USD You save $700 when you order the above!  And there's free shipping / no waiting when you use Instant Download …    Or, get it by mail in about 3 days on a CD ROM here.   [Hurry --  Prices subject to change] First Timer?...Here's some Tips on getting the helps you need:    We work hard to gather the best of free resources from numerous corners of the globe, and it's our privilege to share them all for free with you simply for the furthering of the Gospel, the growth of the Kingdom, and the joy of sharing!    Please feel free to copy and paste any of Pastor Jerry's original manuscripts from the site.  You are free to use them in live services without giving credit, along with the PowerPoint visuals provided.  Our CD ROMs are available by snail mail or Instant Download as a convenience only, but your purchases help support this growing ministry.  There are many benefits to getting our resources in this way, but as always, all materials are free to copy from the site if you don't mind the work and know how to retrieve them.    Have you heard?  All of our collections are downloadable, instantly.  It’s the same CD-ROMs only without the CD.  Download straight to your hard drive on up to 3 PCs, and burn a copy to take with you if you want.  No waiting, no shipping charges, and all files and folders are organized for you with no need for conversion or re-formatting.   Prices listed good for 1 week only.  Click link below for any recent changes. Click here to see our “Instant Download” Page  Or, place your order right here, below...    [no waiting, no shipping]     "There's a few thousand of you who now subscribe to these free 'Grace Notes' ...and for every one of you there's a hundred more who use the site regularly...to God be the glory!  God has used the tool of your POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS over the last 4 years to make this all possible.  It's all free because of those of you who use the voting links on each sermon, and it helps spread the Word of God at the same time. Sermon Central is where many of you learned of this ministry, and they have changed their voting to the 'star system'.  [rate up to 5 stars with a click]  It's easier than before and I think better.  In 10 seconds you can make a difference in 3 simple steps:  1.) Click on the 'recommend' button under any sermon on our site  2.) The same sermon will open up in a new page on the SC site...click on the 'rate this sermon' link right below the 5 stars  3.) Click on the far right star to give the highest recommendation if you can." Bonus Sermons included only in the "Complete Collection":    "Ark Almighty" - Hebrews 11:7 Uses "Evan Almighty" theme - GET SAVED, GET RIGHT, GET INTO CHURCH!  How parents of today can construct an ark of protection for their household.          "Allah is NOT My God" - Genesis 16:11-12 The real ‘Path to 911’ started with Ishmael.  A study of the differences between Christians and Muslims, Jehovah God and Allah, and Jesus Christ and Mohammed.  Islam is not just another denomination down the street.  Learn what they believe and why, and the terrorism connection in light of Bible Prophecy.     "Israel & The Middle East For Dummies"  - Genesis 12:1-3; 16:1-4; Psalm 122:6 Christians of all people should not be ignorant of these things, and the signs of the 'end times' now upon us. For a limited time these sermons come as free gifts when you order our ‘Complete Collection’   Call us if you have any trouble using your credit card thru PayPal:  217-877-0009 [Note:  We cannot process orders by phone, but still may be able to help with your online order or by snail mail order.  You may need to leave a message for call back.] If you prefer, you may send a check to:                  Grace Notes 3770 N. Water St Decatur, IL   62526 [please add $5 for processing and include the email address you'd like your download link sent to, or physical address if you prefer to receive it by mail as a CD ROM]  More questions?  Call us at 217-877-0009 or Write us.     You say:  "It's amazing that this ministry is free...no one else is doing this with Sermons and PowerPoints"    We say:  Please help keep it free by honoring our system:  By design and intent, this sermon service will always be free-but this is made possible by those of you who take the brief moment required to vote for the sermons after you click on them.  You do this from the link on each sermon’s page which says… Click here to recommend this sermon ministry to others.  Help spread the Word by casting your vote...it's a proven system that keeps this ministry free! If you don’t, it’s still free…But many thanks go to those who help make it free for everyone and are helping to spread the Word in the process…you too have the “spirit of sharing” and are a great part of this ministry!  How have some received a series at no cost?    Benefits to CD-ROMs: ·         No downloading, no waiting, no confusion. ·         No cutting and pasting.  Text comes completely formatted in Microsoft Word. ·         No hassles converting PowerPoint "pps" files to "ppt". ·         Already organized in folders for easy indexing. *Remember, all sermons on the site are free to download if you don't mind the work.    Your Feedback:   “I received my CD...these sermons will be a great help to me. My situation limits how much time I can put into sermon preparation.  Grace Notes gets me started, and then the Lord helps me to make it my own.”            Pastor-USA    Welcome to many new subscribers this week, you number in the thousands…to God be the glory!  You can help broaden our influence when you forward these links to others you believe may benefit.  They can sign up at the “Grace Notes” homepage.    Those who want to say “thank you”…please, just vote for the sermons at the link on each sermon’s own page and forward these links to others…it all helps this ministry expand which in turn helps the Kingdom of God to grow…which is what it’s all about. International Users:  Don’t forget to sign the GuestMap below and show us ‘where in the world you are!’  Get a custom logo like ours at Faith's Attic   Have a wonderful day, be blessed, and enjoy!       Pastor Jerry Shirley & Grace Notes Staff                See our Help Section     See previous Grace Notes Newsletters